30 lecturers resign from Nigerian university over poor pay

Over 30 lecturers, all members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), have resigned from Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU) in Bauchi State, citing inadequate remuneration as a key factor.

This information was revealed by Namo Timothy, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU Bauchi Zone, during a press conference held on Friday at the university’s Yuli Campus.

Timothy expressed concern over the state-owned institution, warning that it is facing severe challenges due to mismanagement and neglect of the university’s affairs, particularly the welfare of its staff.

He urged the Bauchi State government to declare a state of emergency in the university to address years of poor administration.

“Until and unless this is done, the ASUU branch zone can no longer guarantee industrial harmony between members of the ASUU SAZU branch and the university administration,” he stated.

He further noted that efforts to resolve the issues through communication with key stakeholders had yielded no results.

Timothy also raised alarms over the lack of pension and death benefit schemes for ASUU members at SAZU, something he noted is standard in other public institutions across Nigeria.

He pointed out that the university administration owes its lecturers over ₦650 million in Earned Academic Allowance and Excess Workload Allowance dating back to 2012.

Additionally, Timothy criticized the appointment of a Higher National Diploma (HND) holder as the university’s bursar, despite the university’s policy that only candidates with at least a first degree qualify for the position. “This has not only dampened the morale of our members in the university but forced many, including 30 trained PhD holders, to resign and migrate to other institutions where their future is secured,” he added.

The ASUU Coordinator called on both the Bauchi State government and the university administration to implement a comprehensive exit policy that includes pension and death benefits for staff.