Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU) has dismissed allegations that 30 PhD holders resigned due to poor salaries, calling the claims “misleading, inaccurate, and unfounded.”
According to a statement released by the university’s Public Relations Office on Sunday, no resignation letters from PhD staff citing poor salary as the reason have been received.
The statement reads:
PRESS RELEASE
29thSeptember, 2024
RE: ALLEGED RESIGNATION OF 30 PhD HOLDERS FROM SA’ADU ZUNGUR UNIVERSITY
The management of Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), Bauchi State, has taken note of a recent publication in some newspapers, alleging that not less than 30 PhD holders have resigned from theuniversity due to poor salary.
We wish to categorically debunk this claim as misleading, inaccurate and unfounded as SAZU has not received any resignation letter from PhD staff citing poor salary as the reason.
The university management however considers it necessary to set the record straight and provide clarity on the matter.
FACTS
1 The university has not received any resignation letter from the purported 30 PhD holders or any significant number of academic staff.
2 Our record shows that only six PhD, have exited or are away from the university in the past 1 year and 10 months of the tenure of this administration, citing various personal reasons not related to salary concerns.
However, the statistics below shows the number of the academic staff who are away either on sabbatical leave, leave of absence or secondment, and those who for one disciplinary reason or the other, are dismissed from the University. It also contained the number that resigned on their own for personal reason, not related to poor pay.
DISMISSAL: 6 persons, based on abscondment or disciplinary grounds
SABBATICAL LEAVE: 2 persons
SECONDMENT: 2 persons
LEAVE OF ABSENCE (LOA): 1 person
It is worthy of noting that Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), has a total number of 397 academic staff distributed as follows:
18 Professors
9 Readers
57 Senior Lecturers
113 Lecturer I
47 Lecturer II
76 Assistant Lecturers
77 Graduate Assistants
3 The university, through the support of His Excellency Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (Executive Governor of Bauchi state), has consistently prioritized the welfare of and development of its staff, including academic staff, and has implemented various initiatives to enhance their working conditions.
This involves timely salary payment and other financial benefits.4 Under the leadership of the current administration, since December 2022, the university has timely promoted numerous academic staff with full payment of promotion arears where applicable.
The statistics of promotions for the various cadre, for 2022, 2023 and those under consideration for 2024 are as follows:
2022 PROMOTION – ACADEMIC STAFF WITH PhD
• 5 Professors
• 2 Readers
• 19 Snr Lecturers
2023 PROMOTION – ACADEMIC STAFF WITH PhD
• Professors 6
• Readers 4
• Senior Lecturer 17
2024 PROMOTION – ACADEMIC STAFF WITH PhD
• Professor 2
• Readers 5
• Senior Lecturers 20
All in all, the University has a total number of 80 PhD holders presently.
5 The University ensures regular training and retraining of staff which is in line with the vision and mission of His Excellency Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (Executive Governor of Bauchi state).
Recently, about 100 academic staff of the institution have been trained on Writing Grant-Winning Concept Notes and Proposals, organized by the university in collaboration with Centre of Excellence for Research and Innovation (CER), training of all HoDs and Deans conducted by the School of Postgraduate Studies, and a proposed capacity building training for junior academics by Directorate of Academic Planning & Quality Assurance. The university has never missed out on any opportunity to nominate and sponsor staff for training either by TETfund, NUC, JAMB, NYSC, Committee of Vice Chancellors, or any other organization that requests for nomination from the university.
6 The state government under the able leadership of His Excellency Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (Executive Governor of Bauchi state), has approved the released of the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Three Million Naira (N153m), fund meant for NUC accreditation of courses to enhance academic excellence. Sixty percent (60%) of the fund has already been disbursed to the university. Previously, the university received both financial and in-kind support from the State Government for the conduct of its maiden combined convocation, the 1st one in the history of the university.
7 Recognizing the significance of autonomy in the employment of staff for the university, His Excellency Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed (Executive Governor of Bauchi state), has given the university Council a free hand for employment of staff. Under the leadership of the current administration, not less than 160 qualified staff have been employed, and recently, there is ongoing advert for the employment of more academicstaff to cater for the growing need of the university and ensure academic excellence.
8 The state government is committed to improving the university’s physical infrastructure, with the construction of 2.8km access road on the main campus, in addition to another road around the staff quarters in Gadau. Currently two requests, one for complete perimeter fencing of all the campuses and the other, for construction of additional hostel block on Yuli campus, are receiving positive consideration by His Excellency.
9 The university has implemented the payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) and has been paying; responsibility allowance, SIWES/teaching practice supervision, PG supervision, etc. Recently the University is preparing submission for Council’s approval for the payment of the remaining 50% of excess workload owed as backload, and also that of the 2022/2023 academic session that was only submitted to management by the Union on Thursday 26th September, a day prior to the publication of the so-called claim.
10 With respect to exit or retirement/death benefit plan, SAZU staff are covered by the retirement and death benefit policy of the State Government. Currently the only lone staff (a non-teaching staff) who has retired and the only lone staff (Academic), who passed away and whose family has applied, are being processed
11 Worthy of noting here is the fact the University has never, in the history of its establishment enjoyed the immense attention and support of Government in a manner that it is receiving from this Government Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU), therefore remains committed to providing a conducive academic environment and supporting the professional growth of its staff.
We value our PhD holders and academic staff, recognizing their critical role in advancing academic excellence. We urge the public to disregard the misleading report and verify information through official channels. The university welcomes constructive engagement and
fact-based discussion.
Auwal Hassan,
Pubic Relation Office,
Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU
