The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has decried the lack of a pension scheme for the academic staff of Sa’adu Zungur University Gadau (SAZU) to improve their well-being after exiting service and or death.
LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that about 13 years since the establishment of the university, lecturers working in the university do not have a pension scheme to fall back on after retirement to take care of their families.
Chairperson of ASUU, Sa’adu Zungur University branch, Dr Auwal Hussain made the call while at a press conference at the Yuli Campus of the university on Saturday.
According to him, SAZU, formerly Bauchi State University, is now in its thirteenth year of existence but without a well-defined pension scheme for its staff and none of the staff knows their fate after retirement.
“It is pathetic, sorrowful and lamentable to note that some of our members who have passed away have nothing for their families as dead benefits despite their sacrifices and hard work through the years.
“The university administration and the governing council have been handling this issue with laxity. All Efforts over the years to get the university administration and the governing council to clearly work out a defined exit policy and death benefits for the staff proved abortive,” Dr Auwal explained.
He said both the administration and governing council of the university have over the years “intentionally ignored addressing the union’s demands despite several correspondence sent to them.”
Dr Auwal regretted that despite getting a wage award of 35 percent and 25 percent in 2023, SAZU has not implemented the award while federal and other state universities have implemented it.
The chairman called on the Bauchi State government to urgently settle issues raised and urged the visitor to the university, Governor Bala Mohammed to direct attention to the institution through timely and adequate funding, staff welfare and provision of infrastructure.
