ASUU decries govt suffocation of academic activities, neglect at Kano varsity

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Yusuf Maitama Sule, Branch, Kano, has raised alarm over the state government’s suffocation of academic activities, persistent neglect of the Institution, and continuous struggle for salvaging the state-owned university from decay.

A statement jointly signed by ASUU branch Chairman and Secretary of the University, Dr. Suraj Suleiman and Dr. Mansur Said on Saturday said, “Consequent to the Branch’s series of submissions to the State Government on its members demands and strategic denial of its request for an audience with the Visitor, the branch resolves to publicly cry out for the world to know the devastating condition of the institution.

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The statement said, “We are engaging the entire public with a view to informing them of a looming crisis and the wanton devastating condition the University is put in as a result of Government neglect”.

The union said in the statement that they focused mainly on the three central issues in ASUU’s struggle including, improving the Condition of Service of its members, revitalizing and accelerating the development of the University through Sustainable Funding, enhancing and protecting the University’s Autonomy, and Academic Freedom.

“The Union further, calls for urgent reconstitution of the University Governing Council, condition of Service, as it demands immediate payment of the balance of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and the Consequential Adjustment arrears.

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It also requests for immediate domestication of the newly approved Consolidated Universities Academic Salary Structure, award by the Federal Government effective from 1st January 2023, and payment of arrears and N35,000 provisional wage award approved by the Federal Government.

The Chairman said on the University Funding, the Government should expedite action towards completion of ongoing projects by the state government to complement Tetfund funding for academic staff training and consider immediate stoppage of automatic deduction of 25 percent from the University’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

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“It is worth noting that registration fees are ‘ service fees’. The branch also observes that funding remains one of the major challenges being faced by the university since its inception as budgetary appropriations for capital projects have never been fully released.

They implore the Visitor (Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf) to improve the University funding.

SOLACEBASE reports that the union is therefore calling on the Visitor to the University to, in the interest of industrial harmony; intensify efforts towards resolving the brewing issues.