ASUU battles Yobe varsity over unpaid allowances, others

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Yobe State University chapter, has accused the varsity’s management of dragging its feet over the payment of N145,714,360.61 as Earn Academic Allowance (EAA) to its members.

Chairman of the Yobe State chapter, Comrade Ahmed Ibrahim, in a press briefing on Thursday, stated that this was one of the issues raised at an emergency congress meeting held by the Union to discuss matters concerning the union’s members as well as students.

He claimed that despite the Yobe State Government approving funds for the payment of the EAA, the university administration has been procrastinating on the matter, which is in violation of the governor’s efforts to facilitate the payment.

According to him, other outstanding allowances include: Postgraduate Facilitation Allowance for the academic sessions of 2020/2021 and 2022/2023; Consultancy Teaching Allowance for the first semester of the 2022/2023 session, as well as the two months’ (June and July 2022) withheld responsibility allowances.

Another concern raised by the union, Comrade Ibrahim alleged, is the illegal occupation of the Registrar’s office by the former Registrar, Kalli Gazali, which he said is in violation of University and national laws.

“Kalli Gazali, who continues to sign university documents and attend statutory meetings in the name of the Registrar, retired in September 2023 after completing the required years of service as indicated by his date of birth—September 1958, according to the document he presented to the university.

“This is shameful and unacceptable, especially in a university renowned for excellence and as an institution for the development of character and learning,” he said.

The Union, through the Chairman, called on the University Council to urgently collaborate with the government to secure adequate student accommodations. They also strongly condemned any attempts to undermine the university’s autonomy, disregard established laws, and flout international best practices that govern the administration of universities.

“ASUU wishes to unequivocally state that interferences, meddling, and abuse of due process are unacceptable. ASUU will take all necessary steps to protect the university for the greater good of Yobe State’s posterity,” he stressed.