No staff quit Bauchi varsity over poor salary – Management replies ASUU
By Samuel Luka, Bauchi
The management of Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU) Bauchi has faulted assertions by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Bauchi zone that 30 PhD holders have left the institution over poor pay package.
A press release signed and made available to newsmen by the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the university on Sunday, Auwal Hassan, described the report credited to ASUU as misleading, inaccurate and unfounded.
“The management of Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Bauchi State, has taken note of a recent publication in some newspapers, alleging that not less than 30 PhD holders have resigned from the university due to poor salary”, part of the release from the SAZU reads.
The university management which debunked the claim, denied receiving any resignation letter from the purported
30 PhD holders or any significant number of academic staff.
According to SAZU, the institution’s record shows that only six PhD have exited or are away from the university in the past 1 year and 10 months of the tenure of the present administration, citing various personal reasons not related to salary concerns.
The press release which noted that six persons were dismissed based on abscondment or disciplinary grounds, added that two persons went on sabbatical leave while two others went on secondment.
The PRO who also explained that one other PhD holder went on leave of absence, disclosed that the university has a total number of 397 academic staff.
He said that the academic staff include 18 Professors, 9 Readers, 57 Senior Lecturers, 113 Lecturer I, 47 Lecturer II, 76 Assistant Lecturers and 77 Graduate Assistants.
The release pointed out that the university, through the support of Governor Bala Mohammed of the state has consistently prioritized the welfare and development of its staff, including academics.
SAZU stressed that the Governor has implemented various initiatives to enhance their working conditions, such as timely salary payment and other financial benefits.
Auwal Hassan said, under the leadership of the current administration, since December 2022, the university has timely promoted numerous academic staff with full payment of promotion arrears where applicable.
The press release which said presently, the university has a total number of 80 PhD holders, boasted that it has ensured regular training and retraining of staff in line with the vision and mission Governor Bala Mohammed of the state.
The university recalled that about 100 academic staff of the institution were recently trained on Writing Grant-Winning Concept Notes and Proposals, organized by the university in collaboration with Centre of Excellence for Research and Innovation (CER).
It added that training of all HoDs and Deans was conducted by the School of Postgraduate Studies, and a proposed capacity building training for junior academics by Directorate of Academic Planning & Quality Assurance.
Recall that ASUU had while addressing a press conference after its special meeting held on Friday at the Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU) Yuli Campus, decried Poor lack of exit policy in the SAZU.
Namo O. Aku Timothy, Zonal Coordinator, Bauchi Zone who addressed the press said that the meeting extensively deliberated on lingering issues involving the welfare and working conditions of its members in Sa’adu Zungur University, Bauchi.
It had also revealed that due to poor pay package, 30 trained PhD holders have resign and migrated to other institutions where their future is more secured.