By Muhammad Ibrahim, Sokoto
The Zonal Coordinator of nine universities comprising Usman Danfodio University, Federal University Zuru, Federal University Gusau, Federal University Birnin-Kebbi, Federal University Dutsin-Ma Katsina, Professor Abubakar Sambo, recently in Sokoto called on the federal government to stop blame game and fulfill all agreement it had with the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.
He said the aftermath of the 2022 nationwide strike action by the ASUU led to the signing of memorandum of action between the federal government and the union, leading to the suspension of the action and the subsequent resumption of academic activities after a court ruling in 2022.
He enumerated that the issues in contention include conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021, release of withheld three and a half months’ salaries due to the 2022 strike action, release of unpaid salaries for staff on sabbatical, part time and adjunct appointment affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System IPPIS and implementation of the reports of visitation panels to universities as the adoption and implementation of the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) software in place of IPPIS among others.
He said due to tyrannical actions of universities governing councils and vice chancellors, no fewer than 120 academicians were dismissed by the management/council of Kogi State University on August 14, 2017.
“In addition, there were termination of appointments and denial of promotion as well as withholding of salaries and non remittance of third party deductions of some members at Lagos State University, Ambrose Ali University Ekpoma, the Ebonyi State University, Federal University of Technology Owerri and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University.
“While government and the respective university administrators are supposed to uphold the truth and protect the sanctity of public university system, they serve as agents of destruction”.
