The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Yusuf Maitama Sule University in Kano State has raised serious concerns over what it alleges is the continuous neglect of the institution by the state government. In a joint statement, Dr. Suraj Suleiman, the ASUU branch Chairman, and Dr. Mansur Saeed, the Secretary, expressed profound sadness about the deteriorating condition of the university.
The statement, issued on Sunday in Kano, highlighted the union’s efforts to communicate its demands to the state government, emphasizing the refusal to grant an audience with the Visitor, Governor Abba Yusuf. Faced with these challenges, the ASUU branch chose to bring the dire state of the university into the public eye.
The union emphasized three core issues in its struggle: improving the conditions of service for its members, revitalizing and accelerating university development through sustainable funding, and enhancing and protecting the university’s autonomy and academic freedom.
ASUU demanded an urgent reconstitution of the University Governing Council, improvements in the conditions of service for its members, and the immediate payment of the balance of Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and Consequential Adjustment arrears. Additionally, it called for the prompt implementation of the newly-approved Consolidated Universities Academic Salary Structure, effective from January 1, and the payment of arrears related to the provisional wage award.
Addressing the funding challenges faced by the university since its inception, ASUU urged Governor Yusuf to enhance funding, emphasizing that budgetary appropriations for capital projects have consistently fallen short.
The union’s statement also urged the government to expedite ongoing projects’ completion, suggesting an immediate halt to the automatic deduction of 25% from the University’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). It argued that registration fees are “service fees.”
ASUU’s call to action included a plea for Governor Yusuf to prioritize the resolution of these issues in the interest of industrial harmony. The union emphasized the urgency of addressing the looming crisis and the university’s deteriorating conditions caused by government neglect.
