DIPLOMAN TIMES

Yobe State Governor Mai Mala Buni has approved the employment of 294 medical students and 801 allied health science students on training in higher institutions, alongside salary and allowance reforms covering health, tertiary education, veterinary medicine, law and judiciary personnel.

Governor Mai Mala Buni has approved the employment of more than 1,000 medical and allied health science students undergoing training in higher institutions within and outside Yobe State. According to the Yobe State government publication, the approval covers 294 medical students placed on GL 07/2 and 801 allied health science students placed on GL 05/2. The government said the arrangement is intended to provide an incentive for the students while creating an expectation that they will eventually serve in government health facilities after completing their studies.

The employment decision creates a direct link between professional training and the state's future health workforce. Governor Buni said the measure was designed to support the students to pursue their courses with greater commitment and subsequently contribute to service delivery within government health facilities. The policy therefore combines an immediate welfare and employment intervention with a longer-term workforce-planning objective, particularly in a sector where the availability and retention of trained personnel affect the capacity of public institutions to provide healthcare.

The governor also approved implementation of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance and Earned Academic Allowance for eight state-owned tertiary institutions and other ministries, departments and agencies. The listed institutions include the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Gujba; Galtima Mai Kyari College of Health Science and Technology, Nguru; Shehu Sule College of Nursing and Midwifery, Damaturu; College of Administration, Management and Technology, Potiskum; Mai Idris Alooma Polytechnic, Geidam; Atiku Abubakar College of Education and Legal Studies, Nguru; and Umar Sulieman College of Education, Gashua. The measures extend the welfare intervention into the state's tertiary education system.

Further approvals affect professional and public-sector remuneration structures. The entry point for Veterinary Medical Officers into the state service is to move from CONMESS 2/2 to CONMESS 3/2, with the existing progression structure correspondingly upgraded. The governor also approved a consolidated salary structure for law officers in the state Ministry of Justice and placement of judiciary staff on the CONJUSS salary structure. The government publication presents these decisions as measures intended to improve staff welfare and motivation, while making improved service delivery an explicit expectation from beneficiaries.

Taken together, the approvals announced by Yobe State cover student employment, academic allowances and professional remuneration across several public institutions. As of October 7, 2026, 294 medical students and 801 allied health science students have been approved for employment under the stated arrangements, while additional measures cover eight tertiary institutions and other MDAs, veterinary officers, law officers and judiciary staff. Governor Buni's stated expectation is that the welfare measures will be reciprocated through stronger commitment and improved service delivery to the people of Yobe State.