On the 77th Independence Day, Universitas Muhammadiyah Maluku Utara (UMMU) commemorated the Independence Day with encouraging news from the Rector, Prof Dr. Saiful Deni. Along with the Daily Advisory Board (BPH), the Vice-Rectors, and related structural boards, Prof Saiful announced that UMMU lecturers will receive a raise in pay by 25% and 13th salary. “UMMU ensures to be independent in improving the welfare of its lecturers and BPH staff,” he said in the Senate Building, UMMU Rectorate, Monday (15/08).

The high percentage of the raise before Independence Day was a unique way to celebrate Indonesia’s special day. The announcement was stated by Vice Rector II UMMU, Dr. Ranita Rope, SP, MSc in her presentation “InsyaAllah, there will be a raise in pay for 25% from the base salary. We have 18% of lecturers that reach minimum wage. Step by step, all of our lecturers will reach the minimum wage and it is not impossible we will exceed public servants,” she said.

The allowances that was granted automatically increase the amount of husband/wife and child allowance although it has a similar percentage. Prof Saiful emphasized in the Daily Board meeting that the tagline ‘UMMU Berbenah’ in its 21st anniversary should increase the staff’s welfare. It will use the real earning potential, commitment, consistency, and discipline in implementing the regulation and good governance of higher education institutions. Five strategies were also mentioned, including first, optimizing the source of finance excluding the tuition fees and laboratory management system, practices in particular subjects, project-based learning, fieldwork practice, internship, and extension class. Second, allocating the salary of non-active lecturers and staff for the additional fund in the budget of raise. Third, formulating the Budget Plan based on the key performance indicator. Fourth, designing the creativity of academic civitas activities based on the re-accreditation instrument. Lastly, ensuring the optimization of productive business units, including UMMU Mart, UMMU RES, Kota Janji, Agritourism, and MSME assistance based on each department and faculty. UMMU keeps developing and improving from time to time so the experience to regulate finance governance in the second term of Prof Saiful Deni’s leadership could be well-organized.