Another strike looms at KUST, after ASUU nationwide industrial action

Academic Staff Union of Universities –Kano University of Science and Technology KUST, Wudil branch has threatened to embark on indefinite strike immediately after the nationwide warning strike across universities in Nigeria.

The union in a press statement jointly signed by the branch Chairman, Comrade Muhammad Sani Gaya and Secretary, Comrade Murtala Muhammad sent to Solacebase on Tuesday decried the insensitivity of the university authority to the plight of the lecturers and students which is negatively affecting conducive teaching and learning in the institution.

Solacebase reports that according to the union, it expressed disappointment on the authority for not addressing the issues presented on the state of the university and the entitlements of its members even with the intervention of the University Governing Council.

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It said despite efforts by ASUU-NEC that sent visitation team twice to the branch with a view to resolving the impasse but to no avail as the authority is nonchalant to issues that can truncate academic calendar of the school.

‘’Our demands centered on the unremitted staff pension contributions by the University Authority amounting to the tune of N 352 Million, non-payment of staff benefits (Earned Allowance, Hazard Allowance, PG grant (2nd batch), SIWES/TP/Field trips) and the non-remittance of the taxes deducted from staff salaries and Withholding tax amounting to N 190 Million,’’ the statement said.

‘’Additionally, based on the information received from the University Authority, the union is vehemently against the deduction of 25% from the registration fees by the Kano Internal Revenue Service (KIRS), thus the fees are service charges which ought to be utilized to render the services meant for.’’

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‘’The deduction is a violation and infringement on the University autonomy and counter-productive to the system. Furthermore, the University suffers serious underfunding for capital projects, which results to inadequate and over[1]stretched lecture theatres, classrooms, laboratories, studio, workshops, library, hostels and staff accommodation.’’

The statement said despite series of meetings and several correspondences with the university authority, the Council and other relevant stakeholders on the issues, the University Authority proved apathetic, insincere and reluctant to resolve the issues and even the memorandum of actions (MOAs) freely signed/reached were flagrantly disregarded and put to disrepute.

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‘’In the light of the foregoing, the general public may wish to note that after the expiration of the four-week ASUU-National rolling strike, ASUU-KUST will proceed on a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike immediately if the aforementioned issues were not addressed.’’

‘’While we are reluctant to take this action, we urge our students, parents and all stakeholders to intervene in averting further disruption to our academic activities. Indeed, strike has always been the last resort deployed by our Union, therefore we solicit for the understanding of all and sundry.’’