Bauchi University, SAZU On Death Stream 

…30 PhD Holders Leaves Varsity , Says ASUU

By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi

Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has noted with dismay that the Sa’adu Zungur University, (SAZU), Bauchi is living in valley of the shadow of death, as it called on the state government to, as a matter of urgency, declare a state of emergency in the University.

“The Government also has 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”

ASUU at a press conference in Bauchi weekend, recalled that the law establishing SAZU stipulates that the funding of the University shall be jointly shared by the State and the Twenty (20) Local Government Councils in the ratio of 2% and 5% of the monthly statutory allocation, respectively.

The Bauchi zone coordinator of the Union, Namo O. Aku Timothy, said that it was unfortunate that this funding formula is not being adhered to, thereby creating a funding-gap in the University with serious consequences.

Timothy explained that 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, saying no wonder the general believe that SAZU is a TETFund university.

He recalled, “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”.

According to the union, the neglect has not only dampened the morale of its 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 secured.

ASUU bitterly complained that the administration of the SAZU has woefully failed to pay its members their rightful entitlements as enshrined in the FGN/ASUU 2009 Agreement, which included Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and Excess Work Load Allowance (EWLA) with accumulated EAA and EWLA owed union members over 650 million naira from 2012 to date.

Others are nonpayment of Honorarium for Internal Examiners, as ASUU in SAZU members have never been compensated for their involvement in the postgraduate oral examinations, contrary to the provision of the FGN/ASUU 2009 Agreement

Also in the default is 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”.

There was also lack of staff training/development: Regular staff training/development, which is key to manpower and skill development in every organisation, unfortunately, SAZU is not committed to the training and development of its staff

ASUU also cried out non-consequential adjustment of salaries/allowances, pointing out that the consequential adjustment of salaries and allowances arising from the enactment of the 2019 Minimum Wage Act was only implemented in SAZU in 2023 without arrears, while it’s members are owed arrears of over three years.

These, the union said, were in addition to the non-implementation of the 25/35 per cent wage award of 2023, despite several letters written to the SAZU administration, Governing Council and the State Ministry for Higher Education, with yet no any serious to commitment.

“Appointment of an Unqualified Bursar; Perpetuity of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council in Office The Law of the University provides that a Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council shall be appointed for a single term of five (5) years and no more Strangely and contrary to this provision, while since the establishment of SAZU over 13 years ago, no visitation panel has been caused to visit the University”.

ASUU Bauchi Zone therefore spelt out way forward for SAZU as calli on the Bauchi state government and, indeed, well-meaning citizens and relevant stakeholders in the state to put in place a comprehensive exit policy, which includes pension for staff who retire from the University and death benefit for the families of staff who are deceased in line with international best practice:

It also pleaded for the full implemention of the funding-formula as provided in the Law establishing the University; and pay all outstanding allowances and remunerations of ASUU members, provide adequate funds for training and staff development, and adhere strictly to the Law of the University in the appointment and tenure of the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council.

Membership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Bauchi Zone are ATBU, Bauchi; FU, Kashere; GSU, Gombe; PLASU, Bokkos; UNIJOS, Jos; and Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi.

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