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13 years after, no pension scheme, staff exit policy–Bauchi varsity lecturers lament
…20 sponsored PhD holders left institution
Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the Sa’adu Zungur University, Gadau (SAZUG), Bauchi State has lamented the absence of conditions of service 13 years after the establishment of the Institution.
The lecturers who are angry and confused about the security of the jobs said that several attempts to get the Management and Governing Council to clearly define the pension scheme and staff exit policy have been failing.
Speaking at a press conference held at the University’s Campus in Yuli on Saturday, the Union said that the absence of a well-defined pension scheme for its staff and the lack of a structured pension plan jeopardising the financial security of dedicated members who have served the institution diligently.
The SAZUG Branch Chairman of ASUU, Comrade Awwal Hussain Nuhu, said that “none of the staff of the university knows his/her fate after retirement or the fate of his/her family after his/her ultimate exit.
“It is pathetic, sorrowful, and lamentable to note that some of our members who have passed away have nothing to their families as death 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 clearly worked out a defined exit policy and dead benefit for the staff of the University proved abortive,” he said.
The lecturers urged the State Government to urgently establish a robust pension scheme that ensures the long-term well-being of the academic staff of the University.
According to them, the University Administration and the University Governing Council have over the years intentionally ignored and snubbed to address the Union’s demands despite several correspondence sent to them.
The Union also demanded for the implementation of Wage Award and Payment of Arrears. “It may be recalled that in 2023, the ASUU was given a wage award of 35% and 25%, effective from January 2023. Many universities across the country (Federal and State) have implemented the wage awards. It is therefore imperative that the University implements the wage award with arrears, effective from January 2023.
“Furthermore, we demand the prompt payment of any outstanding arrears owed to academic staff. Delayed payments create undue financial strain and affect morale.”
The Union also demanded for Excess Workload Allowance (EWLA) and Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) which it said are integral to recognising the additional efforts put forth by members. These allowances compensate for research, administrative duties, and other academic responsibilities.
The Chairman urged the government to take urgent action to address the issue of mass exodus of highly talented and world-class staff. “Most of these staff were trained from their masters to doctoral degrees by the University. Unfortunately, in recent times, over 20 PhD holders have left for other institutions that did not bear any of the costs associated with their training, leaving our State University at a disadvantage.”
The Nigerian equity market closed positive on Thursday with a gain of N6 billion, driven by investor interest in Seplat and sustained interest in Tier-one banking stocks.
Specifically, gains in United Bank for Africa (UBA), Access Corporation, FBN Holdings, Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO), Nigerian Breweries, International Breweries and African Prudential, among other advanced equities, boosted the market performance.
Consequently, the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) market capitalisation gained N6 billion Naira, or 0.01 per cent, to close at N56.227 trillion, up from N56.221 trillion.
The All-Share Index also rose slightly by 0.01 per cent, or 11 points, to close at 99,396.23, compared to 99,385.44 recorded on Wednesday.
As a result, the Year-To-Date (YTD) return increased slightly to 32.93 per cent.
Meanwhile, market breadth closed positive with 33 gainers and 16 losers on the Exchange.
On the gainers’ table, Cutix and Seplat led with a 10 per cent increase each to close at N4.40 and N3,794.90 per share, respectively.
LASACO Assurance followed with a 9.95 per cent gain to close at N2.32 per share.
Computer Warehouse Group gained 9.85 per cent to close at N7.25, and United Capital advanced by 9.79 per cent to close at N24.10 per share.
On the other hand, Daar Communications led the losers’ table with an 8.93 per cent decline to close at 51k per share.
C&I Leasing Plc trailed with an 8.54 per cent drop to close at three Naira per share.
Consolidated Hallmark Holdings lost 7.98 per cent to close at N1.73, MTN Nigeria dropped 6.89 per cent to close at N200, and Regency Alliance Insurance shed 6.52 per cent to close at 43k per share.
An analysis of market activities showed that trade turnover settled higher compared to the previous session, with the value of transactions advancing by 154.67 per cent.
A total of 529.37 million shares valued at N10.49 billion were exchanged in 7,616 deals, compared to 276.36 million shares valued at N4.12 billion in 7,597 deals posted in the previous session.
GTCO led the activity table in volume and value, with 66.05 million shares worth N2.93 billion, followed by UACN with 46.35 million shares valued at N706.59 million.
Access Corporation traded 39.71 million shares worth N754.17 million, Consolidated Hallmark Holdings sold 31.60 million shares worth N54.86 million, and Universal Insurance transacted 30.76 million shares worth N10.53 million.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the construction of the Sokoto-Badagry Highway.
The highway will traverse Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states.
He disclosed this while approving the immediate rollout of the National Construction and Household Support Programme to cover all geopolitical zones in the country.
The programme will boost agricultural productivity, strengthen the economy by creating opportunities in the real sectors of agriculture, manufacturing, and construction, as well as provide urgent economic relief for Nigerians.
Speaking during the National Economic Council, NEC, meeting on Thursday in Abuja, Tinubu urged state governors to work together to meet the needs of citizens, stating that he is willing to provide the needed support to ensure that Nigerians are relieved of hardship.
Under the programme, the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, which will traverse Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos, is prioritised.
Other road infrastructure projects, such as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which is underway, and the Trans-Saharan Highway, which links Enugu, Abakaliki, Ogoja, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, and Abuja, are also prioritised.
The President has also approved full counterpart financing for the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway to traverse Rivers, Abia, Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Yobe and Borno, as well as the Ibadan-Abuja segment of the Lagos-Kano Standard-Gauge Railway, which will traverse Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Niger, Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano.
The Sokoto-Badagry road project is specially prioritised for its importance, as some of the states it will traverse are strategic to the agricultural sustainability of the nation.
Within the Sokoto-Badagry Highway corridor, there are 216 agricultural communities, 58 large and medium dams spread across six states, seven Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones, 156 local government areas, 39 commercial cities and towns, and over one million hectares of arable land.
While emphasising the urgency of boosting food production, the President noted: “Sokoto-Badagry Highway is a pivotal project as the states within this axis form the food belt of the nation, with Badagry being an important artery for food export.
“Our states must work together to deliver on the critical reforms required of us to meet the needs of our people. Time is humanity’s most precious asset. You can never have enough of it. It is getting late.
“We are ready and able to support you in the form of the mechanisation of your agricultural processes and the provision of high-quality seedlings.”
The House of Representatives, on Thursday, passed the bill seeking to domesticate and enforce the International Convention against Doping in Sports and establish the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre.
The executive bill was presented on the floor of the House of Representatives by the Majority Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, after it was read for the third time.
The proposed legislation is titled, “A Bill for an Act to Domesticate and Enforce in Nigeria the International Convention Against Doping
in Sports, establish the Nigeria Anti-Doping Centre to implement Nigeria’s obligations to World Anti-Doping Code, International Standards and for Related Matters(HB.1441).”
Ihonvbere had, in his debate on the general principles of the bill (second reading), said it seeks to implement Nigeria’s obligations to the World Anti-doping Code, International Standards.
The majority leader had reminded his colleagues that if the proposed domestication and establishment of the centre are not done before July 26, Nigeria may not participate in the forthcoming Olympics.
“This is a very important bill. It is for the health of sporting activities in Nigeria. We are already a signatory to the Code. Nigeria has been taken to the Court of International Arbitration for Sports for (not) setting up our Anti-doping Centre, which is required of all countries that have signed the Code.
“If we don’t set it up before then (July 26), it means we will not participate in the coming Olympics,” he said.
The bill was subsequently referred to the Committee on Treatise, Agreements and Protocols.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu had, in May 2024, transmitted the National Anti-doping Bill, 2024 to the House, seeking its accelerated passage ahead of the Olympic Games slated to begin on July 26, 2024.
Tinubu had, in a letter read at plenary last Thursday, said, “The National Anti-doping Bill, 2024 seeks to create an administrative independent National Ant-doping organisation which is a cardinal requirement for Nigeria to achieve compliance with the world anti-doping code and international standard for code compliance with codes by signatories.
“The enactment of this vital legislation will also help Nigeria avoid the imposition of signatories consequences including loss of hosting rights and participation at regional, continental and world championships or major athletic events.”
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