Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) branch of Bauchi State owned Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Gadau has declared that it is neither in conflict with the current SAZU Administration nor with the State Government.
The union in a statement it issued on Saturday jointly signed by Chairperson and Assistant Secretary, Awwal Hussain Nuhu and Yahaya Yakubu respectively stated that, “We are not in any way trying to pull anyone down nor are we trying to tarnish anyone’s image. That could only happen to anyone who is hell-bent on pulling the welfare of our members down.”
“We are only on struggle path capable of crushing any stumbling block, this we are committed to continue until our demands are comprehensively and convincingly addressed.”
It further stated that, “Also, the branch of the Union (ASUU-SAZU) wishes to disclaim a list circulating on social media that claims to contain the names of 30 academic staff who resigned from Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Bauchi State.
“The Union clarifies that the list did not emanate from ASUU, the Union had indeed disclosed the resignation of over 30 PhD holders from the University due to poor remuneration and administrative lapses.
ALSO READ: 2027: Why I’m not thinking about re-election now — Tinubu
“ASUU has its own verified list of the staff who resigned from and will release the list at the appropriate time.”
While reacting to a rejoinder issued by the SAZU PRO, ASUU stated that it was unfortunate and misleading as it presented the issues raised by the union as inaccurate, which it viewed as mischievous and misleading.
According to the Union, “The most alarming part is the acknowledgment of only one deceased Academic Staff. This is not only reckless, but, also an insult to the University’s entire Academic Community and to the families of other deceased staff.”
It however claimed that, “The Union has a record of at least 7 members of Academic staff who have passed away, yet the University acknowledges only one.
“By deliberately downplaying the deaths of Late Dr. Abdulqadir Musa Badara of Business Administration, Late Maryam Zangoma of Biochemistry, Late Mr. Godwin of Public Administration, Late Salim Abubakar of Business Administration, Late Nasiru Saidu of Business Administration, Late Mohammed Manu of Education and Late Muhammad Garba Imam from Biological Sciences- who all died in active services.”
“The University sends a disheartening message to the current serving staff, that their contributions may be shortly forgotten after their death.
“This could compel many of them to reconsider their stay in SAZU or joining the over 30 Academic Staff who have already left the University or shifted their services to neighbouring institutions, where they feel their services are more secured,” It stressed
The union also added that, “At this juncture, the Union wishes to console the families of our deceased colleagues from this unfortunate, heart-breaking and offending statement from the University, we urge them not to be despair, we assure them that the Union will do everything humanly possible until their due benefits are duly paid to them.”
It added that, “Additionally, this inaccurate account of the deceased from the University further validates ASUU’s record of the over thirty staff who are PhD holders, who have left the institution.
“The University only acknowledged 6 departures, in less than 2 years alone, though the figure is still not true and inaccurate. Nevertheless, how many more could you expect to have left in the recent years?
ASUU stressed that, “This clearly points to the fact that the poor condition of service in SAZU is the main reason why the PhD holders in question left.
Moreover, by selectively responding to only one issue raised by ASUU—and doing so poorly—the rejoinder issued by SAZU Administration suggests that all other issues are factual and indisputable.”
According to ASUU, “At the end, the rejoinder issued by the University Administration tore the path of politics by highlighting the support given to the University by the State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.
“This now leaves the Union with no choice but to exonerate the State Government and shift focus internally to the University’s Administration, since, according to them, the Governor has provided all the necessary support to address our demands.”
It added, “We now take this opportunity to inform the State Government the following: There is no Exit policy in Sa’adu Zungur University, as enshrined by the law that established it, unlike other universities.
“The initial Six years of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and Excess Workload Allowances (EWL) (2012–2017) remain unpaid, and there has been no comprehensive commitment to address it. 50% of 2018/2019 EWL was not paid, and there has been no communication regarding any attempt to settle these debts.
Excess Workload Allowances (EWL) for 2019/2020, 2021/2022, and 2022/2023 were all not paid.”
According to it, “None of the deceased Academic Staff have had their death benefits paid to their families.The 4 years of arrears for the Consequential Adjustment have not been paid, with no explanation provided for this delay. The 25% and 35% wage awards given to Universities have not been implemented.
No Postgraduate internal examiner is compensated.”
It added that, “These and more are the issues at hand. The Union is determined to continue its struggle on behalf of its members until these demands are addressed holistically.
“Owing to these unresolved issues, the University is losing qualified staff with PhDs alongside others with lesser qualifications and even those of higher ranks.”
It stressed that, “Many well-trained academics are zipping-up their bags at the moment.The current recruitment spree by the Administration of the University seeking five PhD holders per department will not solve the problem.
“Only improved working conditions and proper remuneration will retain those being trained by the State’s share of TETfund and NEEDS assessment.”
ASUU concluded that, “That is the ultimate solution to the problem.
