Phebe Falodun
No fewer than 30 senior lecturers at the Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Bauchi, have resigned due to poor working conditions and unpaid salaries, raising alarms over the deteriorating state of the institution.
The lecturers, all holders of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees, left their positions amid growing administrative challenges that have plagued the state-owned university for years.
The Zonal Coordinator of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Bauchi Zone, Namo Timothy, made this disclosure on Friday during a press conference held at the university’s Yuli campus.
Timothy painted a grim picture of the institution’s current state, describing it as being “in the shadow of death” due to the gross mismanagement of its affairs and the neglect of its academic staff.
According to Timothy, the resignation of these highly trained lecturers is just one of many signs of the deeper crisis afflicting SAZU.
He called on the Bauchi State Government to urgently declare a state of emergency in the university, warning that ASUU can no longer guarantee industrial harmony if the lingering issues are not addressed promptly.
One of the major grievances expressed by ASUU is the non-payment of over N650 million owed to staff in Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and Excess Workload Allowances (EWA), some of which have been outstanding since 2012.
Timothy stressed that these payments are essential for maintaining the morale of lecturers who are already overburdened and underpaid.
“The inability of the university administration to settle these obligations has significantly demoralized our members. Many of them have no choice but to seek opportunities elsewhere, where their efforts will be rewarded, and their futures secured,” Timothy said.
The union leader further criticized the absence of a pension and death benefit scheme for ASUU members at SAZU, noting that such benefits are standard in structured public service organizations nationwide. He lamented that despite multiple attempts to engage key stakeholders and resolve the issues, little progress had been made.
The resignation crisis is also exacerbated by what ASUU has described as the violation of university regulations in the appointment of key administrative officials.
Timothy cited the controversial appointment of a Higher National Diploma (HND) holder as the university’s Bursar, a position that traditionally requires at least a first degree.
This, he said, was not only a breach of university statutes but also further eroded the credibility and professionalism of the institution’s leadership.
“This appointment undermines the standards that universities are supposed to uphold.
“ It is a direct slap in the face of academic integrity and excellence, and it has contributed to the exodus of qualified staff from the institution,” he added.
ASUU has now called on the Bauchi State Government, led by Governor Bala Mohammed, to intervene and take decisive steps to resolve the mounting problems at SAZU.
The union warned that failure to do so would lead to further industrial action, which could cripple the already struggling university.
The zonal coordinator emphasized that the ASUU branch at SAZU could no longer guarantee industrial peace under the current circumstances.
“The situation has become untenable. If the state government does not declare a state of emergency and address these pressing issues, we cannot assure continued cooperation,” Timothy warned.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the situation at SAZU is emblematic of the broader crisis facing many state-owned universities in Nigeria.
Inadequate funding, poor infrastructure, and the failure to meet staff obligations have led to strikes and resignations in universities across the country.
While federal universities often receive more attention and resources, many state universities are left to grapple with severe financial shortfalls and administrative challenges.
The mass resignation of lecturers at SAZU comes at a time when Nigeria is struggling with a brain drain in the education sector.
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