Sokoto Varsity Unions Protest VC’s Alleged Breach Of Autonomy

The Joint Unions of Sokoto State University have embarked on a peaceful protest over what they described as a breach of university autonomy by the Vice Chancellor.

The unions, comprising the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), embarked on the protest following the Vice Chancellor’s refusal to allow the University Bursar to proceed on retirement.

Recall that the Bursar’s retirement was due in October 2024, and the university law requires him to hand over to the most senior officer in the department pending the appointment of a substantive Bursar.

Despite a letter from the Sokoto State Head of Service on November 18, 2025, directing the Vice Chancellor to comply, he allegedly refused to implement the directive.

The Chairman of ASUU-SSU, Dr Bello Musa, stated that the union executives had engaged the Vice Chancellor three times before embarking on the protest, but no positive outcome was achieved.

The unions assured of their readiness to take further action if their demands were not met.

The unions commended the Visitor to the University, the Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Ahmad Aliyu, for his support and protection of the university’s autonomy.

In response, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Bello Yarima, acknowledged that the Bursar must retire but claimed he had not received any official communication from the mother ministry.

He assured that he would act if such notice is made available to him.