, Bauchi has refuted recent media reports that it lost about 30 PhD holders staff, attributable to poor renumeration and welfare entitlements,){kind=link}
By; Mohammed Kawu, Bauchi
Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Bauchi has refuted recent media reports that it lost about 30 PhD holders staff, attributable to poor renumeration and welfare entitlements, among others.
A press statement signed by the University’s public relations officer, Mr. Auwal Hassan Sunday refuting the reports, said that the publications are totally misleading, inaccurate, unfounded, and geared to denigrate the institution.
Hassan positioned that only six PhD holders staff exited or left the University in the last two years who were basically on personal reasons, but not related to salary concern or wage issue.
The public relations officer disclosed that the University dismissed six staff based on abscondment or disciplinary grounds, two went on subbatical leave, two on secondment, and one leave of absence
It could be recalled that Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Bauchi zone had at a press briefing held weekend at NUJ Secretariat, Bauchi, said that no fewer than 30 PhD holders staff of SAZU left for secured jobs elsewhere.
The ASUU press conference led by the Union’s Bauchi Zonal Coordinator, Namo O. Aku Timothy, attributed the SAZU staff exodus to what he tagged as lingering issues involving the welfare and working conditions of their members in the University.
“The Zone has before then engaged key stakeholders (Bauchi State Government, the Governing Council and the University Administration) and exchanged several correspondences in an attempt to resolve these issues to no avail”, Union’s coordinator said.
According to him, “The Zone, therefore, resolved to engage the Press in order to draw the attention of relevant stakeholders and the general public to worsening working conditions and well-being of our members in SAZU”.
Coordinator Namo Aku Timothy explained that the issues at stake have not only dampened the morale of their 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.
Timothy recalled that the administration of the SAZU has failed to pay ASUU members their rightful entitlements as enshrined in the FGN/ASUU 2009 Agreement, which include Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and Excess Work Load Allowance (EWLA), saying the accumulated EAA and EWLA owed union members is over 650 million naira from 2012 to date
The statement of the SAZU public relations officer gave the staff strength of the University with a total number of 397 academic staff, comprising 18 Professors; 9 Readers; 57 Senior Lecturers; 113 Lecturer; 47 Lecturer 11; 76 Assistant Lecturers; and 77 Graduate Assistants.
“On Staff Development and Support, the university has consistently prioritized staff welfare and development, implementing various initiatives to enhance working conditions, including timely salary payment and financial benefits”, Hassan said.
“Numerous academic staff have been promoted since December 2022, with full payment of promotion arrears. In 2022 Five Professors, Two Readers and 19 Senior Lecturers were promoted, while in 2023 six professors, four Readers and 17 senior lecturers were elevated; as two professors, five Readers and 20 senior lecturers were so far promoted this year “.
Mr. Auwal Hassan explained that the Bauchi state government is committed to improving the university’s physical infrastructure, including the construction of access roads and staff quarters, while requests for perimeter fencing and additional hostel blocks are receiving positive consideration of the government.
He revealed that the state government recently approved the release of N153 million for NUC accreditation of courses, as SAZU received financial and in-kind support from the government for its maiden combined convocation.
“The university council has been given a free hand for employment of staff, employing over 160 qualified staff and advertising for more academic staff. It has also implemented payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and other benefits, while staff are covered by the state government’s retirement and death benefit policy”.
Hassan also assured that SAZU remained committed to providing a conducive academic environment and supporting staff growth, and urged the public to disregard misleading reports and henceforth verify information through official channels.
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