Bauchi varsity ASUU laments members’ poor welfare

Members of the Academic Staff Union of University, Sa’adu Zungur University Gadau, have decried the poor and inadequate welfare of its members.

The ASUU chairman, Comrade Awwal Hussain Nuhu, lamented their ordeal via a press statement on Saturday in Bauchi.

Arewa PUNCH reports that the formerly known Bauchi State University Gadau has been renamed the Sa’adu Zungur University Gadau.

While calling the attention of the Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed who is the visitor of the university, the university’s governing council, university administration, other stakeholders, and the general public, on the several critical matters that require immediate action.

The ASUU chairman complained bitterly over the disturbing situation of the welfare of the staff and the advancement of the institution.

He explained that Bauchi State University, now in its 13th year of existence, faces significant challenges that include the absence of a well-defined pension scheme for its staff, a situation which jeopardises the financial security of the union members who serve the institution diligently.

He maintained that, “This university is more than 12 years old, yet none of the staff knows his/her fate after retirement or the fate of his/her family after his/her ultimate exit.

“It is pathetic, sorrowful, and lamentable to note that some of our members who have passed away have had nothing to bequeath their families as benefits despite their sacrifices and hard work through the years.

“The University Administration and the Governing Council have been handling this issue with laxity  All Efforts over the years to get the University Administration and the Governing Council to clearly work out a defined exit policy and dead benefits for the staff of the University proved abortive.”

Therefore, Hussain Nuhu called on the state government to urgently establish a robust pension scheme that ensures the long-term well-being of the academic staff of the university.

According to the ASUU chairman, “The university governing council have over the years intentionally ignored and snubbed to address the union’s demands despite several correspondences sent to them.”

He equally recalled that in 2023, the academic staff of universities were given a wage award of 35% and 25%, effective from January 2023.

“Many universities across the country –  (Federal and State) have implemented wage awards. It is therefore imperative that the university implements the wage award with arrears, effective from January 2023. This is essential to keep pace with the rising cost of living and to recognize the valuable contributions of the academic staff,” he pointed out.

Nuhu further demanded the prompt payment of any outstanding arrears owed to the academic staff members, saying delayed payments create undue financial strain and affect morale.

He also noted the importance of Excess Workload Allowance and Earned Academic Allowance as integral to recognising the additional efforts put forth by their members.

These allowances according to him, compensate for research, administrative duties, and other academic responsibilities urging the state government and the university administration to expedite the disbursement of these allowances with arrears to ensure fairness and motivate dedicated educators.

The SAZUG ASUU chairman also acknowledged the role of internal examiners as pivotal in maintaining academic standards and demanding the timely payment of their allowance to sustain the quality of assessments.

He stressed, “Examinations officers play a vital role in coordinating and managing the examination processes. Their efforts contribute significantly to the smooth conduct of assessments. Their responsibility allowance was stopped without any justification.

“We therefore demand the timely payment of their allowances and timely settlement of any pending arrears in that regard.”

Speaking on the university funding and collaboration, Nuhu implored, the governor to direct his attention to the institution through adequate funding, staff welfare, and infrastructural development, which he said are essential for the growth of the university.

“Hence, we call on the government to religiously abide by the 2% and 5% of the state and local governments monthly grants, respectively, allocated for the funding of the university as stipulated in the university law to enable it to carry out its activities effectively and efficiently.

“We appeal to the state government to understand that Sa’adu Zungur University is stuffed with talented and young academicians in different disciplines ready to collaborate and offer solutions facing their immediate society – Bauchi State.

“Hence, we call for the collaboration that will help address the state’s problems and uplift Bauchi State and its people, and the country at large.

“Let us collectively elevate Sa’adu Zungur University to greater heights through infrastructural development, research, and innovation, staff training and development, and ensure the welfare of academic staff is adequately taken care of.

“Taking timely action to address these critical and significant issues will undoubtedly help mitigate the mass exodus of our highly talented and world-class staff. Most of these staff were trained from their master’s to doctoral degrees by the university. Unfortunately, in recent times, over 20 PhDs have left for other institutions that did not bear any of the costs associated with their training, leaving our State University at a disadvantage,” the chairman explained.

SAZUG ASUU also contends issues of the Federal Government to sign and implement the re-negotiated FGN/ASUU Agreement, non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances, arrears of promotion, illegal dissolution of Governing Councils in the Federal and some State Universities, and the release of only three and a half months of the withheld salaries for work that was already done pointing that all the issues in contention can be immediately resolved if the President as the Commander-in-Chief would perform the functions of his office by immediately interfacing directly with the leadership of ASUU.

Thus, he appealed that “the president should fulfil his promise to Nigerians that “No child of school age would stay at home due to avoidable industrial unrest in our ivory towers.

“We urge the University Administration, the Governing Council, and the State Government to address these pressing issues promptly for continuous industrial harmony.

“Nevertheless, our commitment to the growth and prosperity of Sa’adu Zungur University remains unwavering, and we trust that our concerns will receive the required attention.”