The Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has urged the university’s management and governing council to address their longstanding demands to prevent an impending industrial action. The union has also called on Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed to urgently intervene and enhance the university system by adopting global best practices.
During a stakeholders meeting at the Yuli Campus, Comrade Auwal Nuhu, chairperson of ASUU Sa’adu Zungur University, issued a stern warning about the potential strike. “None of the parties involved would like any strike action, but if we exhaust all possible negotiation means and there is nothing tangible to write home about, we have no option but to go on strike to press home our demands to make the university system work effectively,” Nuhu stated.
He revealed that the union had sent multiple letters to the university’s management and governing council without receiving any responses. This lack of communication has raised concerns about the management’s commitment to improving the university according to global standards. Furthermore, ASUU has written to the governor, but it remains uncertain if he has received any of their communications.
“It may interest you to know that since the establishment of this university about 13 years ago, we have never gone on an internal strike. We have been patiently pushing for solutions to the issues at stake,” Nuhu explained.
Among the unresolved issues are the absence of a pension scheme for university staff, the non-implementation of 30% and 35% salary adjustments, and unpaid earned academic allowances. These persistent problems have left the university staff working under uncertain conditions. Despite numerous appeals from the university council to the state government, the demands have been ignored.
Nuhu also criticized the university management’s plan to recruit additional lecturers without addressing the existing issues, which he believes will exacerbate the problems. “Instead of addressing existing problems, the management of the university is planning to recruit additional lecturers, which will add to the already compounding issues,” he revealed.
The chairperson emphasized that if their demands remain unmet, the union will be forced to strike, marking a significant shift after nearly 14 years of avoiding local industrial actions.
Comrade Ahmad Mukaila, a leader of the university’s Student Union Representatives, urged all concerned parties to address ASUU’s demands to ensure effective service delivery. He stressed that resolving these issues is crucial for maintaining the quality of education and the overall functioning of the university.
The potential strike poses a significant threat to the academic calendar and the future of the students. The union’s demands, if met, could pave the way for a more stable and productive academic environment. The intervention of the state governor and the university’s governing council is seen as vital in averting the looming crisis and ensuring that SAZU continues to thrive.
