…accuses varsity of employing ‘unqualified’ bursary
…laments unpaid N650 million Earned Allowances 12 years
By Rauf Oyewole
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-Bauchi zone) has described Sa'adu Zungur University (SAZU) as an institution living in the valley of the shadow of death over alleged gross violation of the existing university laws.
While addressing the press on Friday at the ZASU Yuli Campus, the Bauchi Zone of the Union said that it has exhausted all the internal mechanisms of the union in resolving industrial issues which it said spanned through the establishment of the University.
The Zonal Chairman of Bauchi Zone, Prof. Aku Timothy highlighted some of the grievances of the union to include; “absence of employee exit policy, non-payment of entitlements, Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and Excess Work Load Allowance (EWLA). The accumulated EAA and EWLA owed our members is over 650 million naira from 2012 to date.
“Poor Staff Welfare: The SAZU recently increased the fees and other charges for regular undergraduate programmes by more than 100 per cent. Nonetheless, the University claims that it has no fund to pay our members their allowances and other benefits which have accumulated over the years.
“Wage Award: The 25/35 per cent wage award of 2023 is yet to be implemented in SAZU. The Branch has written several letters and met with the University Administration, Governing Council and the Ministry for Higher Education over this issue without any serious commitment,” he said.
“Appointment of an Unqualified Bursar: The Condition of Service of the University provides that for anybody to be considered for appointment as Bursar of the University, he/she must have a minimum of first degree, Second Class Lower Division. However, against this provision, the Selection Board allowed candidates with HND to contest for the position. ASUU Bauchi Zone strongly condemns this illegal practice.”
He said 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. 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.
“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,” he said.
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