ASUU CALLS ON BASG TO ADDRESS ISSUES INVOLVING THE WELFARE AND WELL-BEING OF MEMBERS IN THE STATE UNIVERSITY 27-09-24
By Sadiq Aminu The Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU has called on Bauchi State government to address all contentious issues involving the welfare and wellbeing of members in the state owned Sa’adu Zungur University to guarantee industrial harmony.
The ASUU Zonal Coodinator, Bauchi Zone Professor Timothy Namo Aku who made the appeal at a press conference in the university, enjoined the state government to declare state of emergency in the institution to avoid academic obstruction.
The Bauchi Zone of the Union comprises Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University ATBU Bauchi, Federal University Kashere – Gombe state, Gombe State University GSU, Plateau State University, Bokkos; University of Jos UNIJOS and Sa’adu Zungur University, SAZU Bauchi.
Professor Timothy Namo Aku maintained that the union has engaged key stakeholders including the state government, the governing council and the university administration to resolve the issues to no avail.
He said the contentious issues include, absence of employee exit policy, non payment of entitlement, poor staff welfare, non commitment to staff training and developments, consequential of salaries and allowances.
Others are non implementation of wage award, appointment of an unqualified bursar, non compliance with funding formula, perpetuity of the Pro – Chancellor and Chairman of council in office and visitation panel.
The ASUU Zonal Coodinator expressed concern that Sa’adu Zungur University is living in the valley of the shadow of death hence the need to address anomalies to avoid indefinite strike.
Meanwhile Bauchi State government has been requested to put in place comprehensive exit policy in Sa’adu Zungur University in line with international best practice.
The Zonal Coodinator, Bauchi Zone Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU Professor Timothy Namo Aku made the call while speaking to newsmen after comprehensive review of the state of affairs of the institution.
Professor Timothy Namo Aku said the policy frame work should include pension of staff that retired from the university and death benefit for the families of staff who are deceased.
Others are full implementation of the funding formula as provided in the law of the university as well as payment of all allowances, renumeration and honorarium of internal examiners of postgraduate programmes.
The rest are provision of adequate funds for training and staff development as well as the constitution of a visitation panel to carry out comprehensive audit of the affairs of the university for the past ten years.
The ASUU Zonal Coodinator insisted that henceforth appointment of principal officers should be done in compliance with the act establishing the university and tenure of the Pro Chancellor and Chairman of council of the institution.
Professor Timothy Namo Aku noted that failure of the State government to address the aforementioned issues the union will no other option than to embark on strike.