McPherson University has increased the salary of its senior and junior staff by 30 percent and also commissioned two halls of residence in the university.
The vice chancellor of the university, Professor Francis Igbasan, disclosed this during a Christmas Carol held recently on the university campus at Seriki Sotayo, Ogun State.
The vice chancellor addressed three key issues bordering on staff salaries, infrastructural development and students’ enrolment.
He stated that from this month, (December), all members of staff in the junior cadre will receive 30 per cent increment in their salaries, while the senior staff will receive 20 percent in the first instance and an additional 10 percent which will be added to senior staff’s emolument as soon as there is an improvement in students’ enrolment.
“This new development is a testament to my administration’s commitment to staff welfare. There are many things coming the way of members of staff,” he said.
On infrastructural development, the vice chancellor said two halls of residence were commissioned this year and another two are nearing completion.
“We have also converted the staff quarters block on campus to students’ hostel. But we still have accommodation problems. It will become disturbingly obvious next academic session if we do not do anything urgently about it,” he said.
The vice chancellor sought the support of individuals and organisations as regards partnerships in the construction of students’ hotels.
“We are constantly strategising on infrastructural matters and planning for the immediate future. We will begin the construction of another hall of residence immediately after we commission the last hostel under construction by January 2024,” he added.
Speaking on enrolment, the vice chancellor said the university admitted about 400 students this current academic session, which was far from the goals they set.
He urged the staff and management to brace up, adding that the university has good courses and programmes they can market to admission seekers.
“We should not leave the task of enrolment to the Committee on Enrolment alone. We need to be determined and dedicated to the goal of 1,200 students this academic session. It is possible,” he said.
In the course of the carol, the vice chancellor, on behalf of the university, presented two categories of awards – Excellence/Productivity Award and Special Letters of Commendation Award − to both senior and junior staff of the university who stood out in the last one year.
Six staff members were awarded the Excellence/Productivity Award with a cash prize of N50,000 for each awardee. On the other hand, three staff members were given the Special Letters of Commendation for their service to the university.
The vice chancellor stated that the 2024 edition of the McPherson University Staff Productivity Awards will be better and bigger, adding “We should all stay hopeful and let us remain diligent and creative in all our duty posts.”
