•Tinubu and ASUU logo
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Zone 10 Sokoto has raised concerns against the Tinubu-led federal government for refusing to inaugurate the Implementation and Monitoring Committee, and other pending issues as agreed by the two parties.
It also alleged that several universities were yet to fully implement the salary components agreement hence creating bureaucratic delays, inconsistencies and selective implementation by administrators, reports The Nation.
The Zone comprise of UDUS, UMYUK, AFUSTA, SSU, FUDMA,FUBK, FUGUS, SSUES and FUAZ.
The union’s Zonal Coordinator, Professor Abubakar Sabo while addressing the press in Sokoto today, expressed dismay for continued neglect of unresolved welfare issues affecting Nigerian academics including the mainstream of Consolidated Academic Tool Allowances (CATA), EAA and professorial allowances I to the monthly salary structure .
“Arrears of 25-35% salary ward, promotion arrears salary shortfall arising from the IPPIS platform and deductions among others .”
Accordingly, the Zone expressed concerns over education policies, rejecting certain pronouncements in the education sector, citing examples on the reversal of the mother tongue policy, compulsory enrolment into Nigerian Education Repository Data bank and proposal to scrap courses in Humanities and social sciences, noting that all academic disciplinary news have societal relevance and contribute to national growth and development .
This, the union said were part of catalysts to unemployment in the country due to poor economic policies and priorities driven by alleged endemic corruption and embezzlement which further characterised the present situation.
However, Sabo further noted governance and administrative irregularities as visible issues that increasingly drive maladministration and lack of transparency and irregular appointments in Nigerian Universities.
“A good example of such is happening in our zone with questionable academic designations and politically motivated appointments threatening the integrity and global reputation of the Nigerian Universities by negating merit, accountability and due process trajectory “, the Zonal Coordinator pointed out.
While also noting the security and state of the Nigerian nation in the light of ASUU’s view, Professor Sabo described as worsening the emerging and growing trend of the menace, causing enlarged insecurity, grave economic hardship and political tension across the country.
“It is evident that many communities have been displaced and denied their right of peace, living under palpable tension, fear and uncertainties.
“We urged and call on all patriotic Nigerians across divides to join in and support ASUU’s struggle for a functional, competitive and well funded Nigerian universities system”, the Zonal Coordinator stressed re-assuring that ASUU remained committed to dialogue and constructive engagement.
