Staff of KSUSTA are yet to enjoy consequential salary adjustment being implemented since 2019 in all public service, both states and federal establishments including academic institutions
Branch of Kebbi state academic staff Union of Universities ASUU, Kebbi state University of Science and technology KSUSTA, has warned the management of the University to meet the lingering problems to avert crisis in the University.
The Branch Chairman, Dr. Abubakar Birnin-Yauri, gave the warning in Birnin Kebbi, this Thursday, at a news briefing.
Reading from a text jointly signed by him and the branch Secretary, Dr. Gado Abubakar, the Chairman solicited the intervention of Labour activists, traditional institutions, religious leaders, parents, students, traders, professional groups, civil society organisations and progressive members of the public to save education in Kebbi State.
“This press conference is borne out of the desire to halt an impending collapse of once a high flourishing centre of learning in the North West geopolitical zone of Nigeria”,
“The heat generated by what one will call absolute neglect has become unbearable resulting to mass exodus of our members to other climes in search of greener pasture”, he narrated.
Dr. Birnin-Yauri said regardless of such ill treatment, the academic staff have remained committed to the mission and vision of the University.
The ASUU chairman added that the union held series of meetings and consultations with the University management, Governing Council, the state Ministry of Higher Education and prominent personalities including the academia to prevail on the Kebbi State Government to address the lingering issues affecting the university to no avail.
“Staff of KSUSTA are yet to enjoy consequential salary adjustment being implemented since 2019 in all public service, both states and federal establishments including academic institutions”,
“Our neighbouring institutions such as Federal University Birnin Kebbi, Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi, Usmanu Danfodio University Sokoto, and Umaru ‘Yar’adua University Katsina, are enjoying the adjustment and have been paid backlog of arrears”, he lamented.
Dr. Birnin-Yauri informed newsmen that ASUU has written several letters to the University management, the Governing Council, the Ministry of Higher Education and the State Government to solve the problem without positive result.
“Additionally, the payment of interim ASUU – FG 35% and 25% salary increment for academic staff of Nigerian Universities, approved by former President Muhammadu Buhari, and the N35, 000 increment (wage award) for all Nigerian workers, effective October 2023 – March 2024, fully implemented by President Tinubu has not been implemented by the Aliero University, KSUSTA”, Birnin-Yauri said.
The ASUU leader further talked about non implementation or partial payment of annual salary increments since 2017 to date, non payment of Earn Academic Allowances, EAA, from 2014-2021 for 308 academic staff of the University and backlogs of unpaid promotion arrears from 2016 – 2023.