Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has approved the confirmation of permanent appointments for long-serving ad-hoc staff across state-owned tertiary institutions, including Plateau State Polytechnic and the College of Education, Gindiri.
Many of the workers had served for five to ten years on casual terms, earning between ₦6,000 and ₦15,000 monthly before the latest approval.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, Governor Mutfwang said earlier recruitment exercises had unjustly sidelined many of these workers.
He explained that the suspension of those exercises created room to review complaints and correct long-standing injustices.
According to him, once school councils were inaugurated, they reviewed staff records, while unions worked closely with a Ministry of Education help desk to resolve outstanding issues.
“When we came in, we discovered that none of you was given a permanent appointment. We felt it was immoral, ungodly, and unjust, which is why we suspended the entire exercise,” he said.
He stressed that every Plateau person deserves a fair chance, noting that qualified individuals—whether within or outside the state—must not be denied opportunities. He added that the government has approved funds to compensate the affected staff for their years of service.
Mutfwang encouraged the workers to remain committed to excellence, noting improvements across institutions.
He urged them to pursue higher qualifications to match the state’s drive for academic growth.
“Polytechnic admissions have increased from around 3,000 to over 9,000. The College of Education now has approval for 90 degree programmes. This is real progress.
“For those pursuing PhDs, we will provide incentives. If you upgrade yourselves, you can rise to become professors, as we have seen in other institutions, he said.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to supporting the workforce, assuring that the state would continue to prioritise decent wages and professional growth.
Present at the interface were the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Kachollom Gang; the Governor’s Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Rt. Hon. Titus Alans; and the Special Adviser on Youth Matters, Hon. Hitler Pwajok. They urged the newly confirmed staff to embrace efficiency, commitment, and productivity as the state advances its education sector.
Chairman of the ad-hoc staff association, Mr. Josiah Sati, expressed gratitude to the Governor, describing the approval as one of the happiest moments in their lives.
He acknowledged the years of hardship endured by the staff and thanked the government for addressing their long-standing grievances.
