The Bauchi Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared unequivocally that the state-owned Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU) is “living in the valley of the shadow of death” and may soon face serious challenges.
This declaration was made on Friday by the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Bauchi Zone, Prof. Timothy Namo, during a press conference held at the Yuli campus of the university in Bauchi.
According to him, “Compatriots of the Press, from the picture painted above, we make bold to state unequivocally that the Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi is living in the valley of the shadow of death.”
ALSO READ: Cholera: Ebonyi LG boss bans ceremonial burial of victims
“We call on the State Government to declare a state of emergency in the university and to ensure that all contentious issues involving the welfare and well-being of our members are urgently addressed.”
He stressed that, “Until and unless this is done, ASUU Bauchi Zone can no longer guarantee industrial harmony between members of ASUU, SAZU Branch, and the University Administration.”
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Bauchi Zone, comprising ATBU (Bauchi), FU (Kashere), GSU (Gombe), PLASU (Bokkos), UNIJOS (Jos), and Sa’adu Zungur University (Bauchi), held a special meeting on Friday, September 14, 2024.
At the meeting, members extensively deliberated on lingering issues affecting the welfare and working conditions of staff at Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi.
The Zonal Coordinator stated that the zone had previously engaged key stakeholders, including the Bauchi State Government, the Governing Council, and the University Administration, through various correspondences to resolve these issues, but to no avail.
The zone, therefore, resolved to engage the press to draw the attention of relevant stakeholders and the general public to the worsening working conditions and well-being of their members at SAZU.
The issues include the absence of an employee exit policy. “Compatriots of the Press, it may interest you to know that thirteen years after the establishment of Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi, there is no exit policy for the employees of the institution.
“For the avoidance of doubt, SAZU has no pension or death benefit scheme in place as obtained in the structured public service regulation in the country.”
He also stated, “This has not only dampened the morale of our members in the university but forced many, including thirty (30) trained PhD holders, to resign and migrate to other institutions where their future is more secure.”
Another issue is the non-payment of entitlements. “It is very sad to note that the Administration of the SAZU has failed to pay our members their rightful entitlements as enshrined in the FGN/ASUU 2009 Agreement.”
According to him, these include Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and Excess Workload Allowance (EWLA). The accumulated EAA and EWLA owed to their members exceeds 650 million naira from 2012 to date.
Additionally, he pointed out the lack of honorarium for internal examiners. “Since the commencement of postgraduate programmes in the university, many students have graduated.
“However, in spite of the huge sums of revenue generated from these programmes, our members have never been compensated for their involvement in the postgraduate oral examinations, contrary to the provision of the FGN/ASUU 2009 Agreement.”
On poor staff welfare, he said, “SAZU recently increased fees and other charges for regular undergraduate programmes by more than 100 percent.
“Nonetheless, the university claims it has no funds to pay our members their allowances and other benefits, which have accumulated over the years.”
He added that staff training and development, a key factor for manpower and skill enhancement, has been neglected. SAZU is not committed to the regular training and development of its staff.
Furthermore, the consequential adjustment of salaries and allowances arising from the enactment of the 2019 Minimum Wage Act was only implemented in SAZU in 2023, and without arrears. Members are owed arrears of over three years.
“All efforts by the branch to get the University Administration to settle these arrears have failed.”
ASUU also pointed out that the 25/35 percent wage award of 2023 has yet to be implemented at SAZU.
The branch has written several letters and met with the University Administration, Governing Council, and the Ministry of Higher Education regarding this issue, but without any serious commitment.
According to ASUU, the University’s Conditions of Service stipulate that candidates for the position of Bursar must have a minimum of a first degree with at least a Second Class Lower Division.
However, against this provision, the selection board allowed candidates with HND qualifications to contest for the position. ASUU Bauchi Zone strongly condemned this illegal practice.
On the issue of non-compliance with the funding formula, ASUU stated that the law establishing the university stipulates that the funding of the institution should be shared by the state and the 20 local government councils in the ratio of 2% and 5% of the monthly statutory allocation, respectively.
“Unfortunately, this funding formula is not being adhered to, thereby creating a funding gap in the university with serious consequences.
“For example, nearly all the physical structures in the university are projects funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) through normal intervention, special intervention, or NEEDS assessment.
“No wonder, it is generally believed that SAZU is a TETFund university,” he added.
ASUU further criticized the perpetuation of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council in office. The law of the university provides that the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council shall be appointed for a single term of five years, and no more.
“Strangely and contrary to this provision, the present Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council has been in office since the establishment of the university.
ASUU Bauchi Zone has observed that the continued stay in office of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, acting as an emperor, is not only illegal but also fails to contribute any progressive policy direction or attract funds to the university.”
Finally, ASUU called on the Visitor to immediately convene a Visitation Panel to conduct a comprehensive audit of the university’s affairs for the past ten years, in order to provide a clear policy direction for the institution.
