LIVE UPDATES
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Sa’adu Zungur University in Bauchi State, insisted that about 30 PhD holders resigned from the University, adding that it would make a public announcement of their names.
The union statement was contained in press release by the ASUU-SAZU branch chairperson, Awwal Hussain.
Hussain, who was responding to a rejoinder by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Auwal Hassan, which faulted publications, stating that 30 PhD holders resigned from the university, said ASUU had a verified list of the said number of staff who resigned and will release it at the appropriate time.
He affirmed that: “The rejoinder issued by the SAZU spokesman was unfortunate and misleading. It presented the issues raised by the union as inaccurate, which we view as mischievous and misleading.
“The most alarming part is the acknowledgement of only one deceased academic staff member. This is not only reckless but also an insult to the university’s entire academic community and the families of other deceased staff members.
“The union has a record of at least seven members of academic staff who have passed, yet the university acknowledges only one.
“By deliberately downplaying the deaths of the late Dr. Abdulqadir Musa Badara of Business Administration, the late Maryam Zangoma of Biochemistry, the late Mr. Godwin of Public Administration, the late Salim Abubakar of Business Administration, the late Nasiru Saidu of Business Administration, the late Mohammed Manu of Education, and the late Muhammad Garba Imam from Biological Sciences—who all died in active service to the university—sends a disheartening message to the current serving staff that their contributions may be shortly forgotten after their death.”
He said the development could compel more ASUU members to reconsider their tenure at SAZU or join the over 30 academic staff who had already left the university.
The ASUU-SAZU chairperson insisted that “this inaccurate account of the deceased from the university further validates ASUU’s record of over 30 PhD holders who have left the institution.
“The university has only acknowledged six departures in less than two years, though this figure is still inaccurate. Nevertheless, how many more could you expect to have left in recent years?” he added.
“It is pathetic how the university administration is debunking this fact, as if the resignation of at least one PhD holder, trained with state resources, is not enough to disturb a leader who has the university and the state at heart.
“One may argue that it is normal for lecturers to resign and accept appointments at other universities; however, it is pertinent to note that while academic staff are resigning from SAZU to secure permanent appointments in other universities, there is no record of any academic staff resigning elsewhere to take up a permanent position at SAZU.
“This points to the fact that the poor conditions of service in SAZU are the main reason why the PhD holders in question have left.”
Meanwhile, the Bauchi State House of Assembly has concluded plans to probe into the mass resignation crisis in the varsity.
In a motion under matters of urgent public importance moved by the assembly committee chairman on education, Nasiru Ala, during the plenary on Wednesday, he said the house is enjoined to advise the management of Sa’adu Zungur University to provide the assembly with a potential position paper for clarity on the matter, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Ala called on the house “to invite the state ministry for Higher Education and Regional Integration to provide and discuss the government’s stance on the lingering issue and the efforts and plans the state government is making to improve and enhance the education sector across the state.”
