Due to inadequate compensation and poor administration, at least 30 senior lecturers at Bauchi State’s Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU) have resigned.
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) zonal coordinator for the Bauchi Zone, Namo Timothy, revealed this to the press during a briefing.
Timothy clarified that poor staff welfare and poor administration were the reasons the PhD-holding lecturers left the institution.
He urged the Bauchi State government to declare a state of emergency and issued a warning that the state-owned university SAZU is in a critical condition.
Timothy also issued a dire warning, saying that the ASUU Bauchi Zone could no longer maintain industrial harmony between its members and the university administration without quick action.
He stated, “The zone has attempted to address these issues by involving key stakeholders and exchanging multiple correspondences, but to no avail.”
He bemoaned the absence of pension and death benefit plans for SAZU employees, which are common in public service laws throughout Nigeria.
Timothy continued, “Earned Academic Allowances and Excess Workload Allowances dating back to 2012 total over ₦650 million that the university owes its staff.”
He also denounced the university’s appointment of a Higher National Diploma (HND) holder as bursar, citing policy that requires the position to require a first degree.
While acknowledging that the difficulties faced by the faculty have demoralised them, Timothy urged the state government and the university administration to put in place a thorough exit policy that offers staff members pensions and death benefits.