Kano government neglecting Maitama Sule varsity, says ASUU

The Yusuf Maitama Sule University Kano (YUMSUK) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has condemned what it considers a “neglect of the institution” by the state government.

NAN reports that Suraj Suleiman, the ASUU branch chairman, and Mansur Saeed, its secretary, issued a joint statement expressing sadness over what they described as the deplorable state of the institution.

Suleiman and Saeed said there is an urgent need to better the condition of service of academic staff in the institution, accelerate the development of the university through sustainable funding, and enhance the university’s autonomy.

They said the union’s request for an audience with Abba Yusuf, the governor, has been met with “strategic denial”.

“We are engaging the entire public with a view to informing them of a looming crisis and the wanton devastating condition of the university as a result of government neglect,” the statement reads.

“The union further calls for an urgent reconstitution of the university governing council and the immediate payment of the balance of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and the consequential adjustment arrears.”

The YUMSUK lecturers sought the immediate domestication of the newly-approved Consolidated Universities Academic Salary Structure by the federal government, effective from January 1.

They demanded the payment of arrears of N35,000 provisional wage award approved by the federal government.

The union urged the government to expedite action towards the completion of ongoing projects to complement the funding of academic staff training by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

It equally urged the government to consider immediate stoppage of automatic deduction of 25 percent from the university’s internally generated revenue (IGR).

The branch said it has observed that funding remains one of the major challenges faced by the university since its inception, as budgetary appropriations for capital projects have never been fully released.

It called on the governor to improve on funding the university and intensify efforts towards resolving the brewing issues for industrial harmony.