By Rauf Oyewole
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Sa’adu Zungur University, Gadau has said that the Institution has failed to honour its obligations and uphold the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding it signed with the union, while absolving the lecturers from being blamed for potential industrial action.
The Union in a statement on Thursday, signed by the Chairperson and Secretary; Comrade Awwal Hussain Nuhu and Comrade Saleh Rimi Bagudu, said that despite the 400 percent increment monthly subvention, the management has deliberately ignored its agreement.
They applauded the Governor, Bala Mohammed for raising the University's monthly funding from a paltry N80 million to a humongous N400 million. The lecturers said that the increment has laid the foundation for sustained institutional growth and stability.
“This singular gesture remains the most significant catalyst and motivation to our members in SAZU to patiently follow up the slower pace of the MoU implementation.”
The Union expressed concerns and called the attention of the stakeholders and the general public to “deliberate, persistent, and unjustifiable lapses of the University Management”, which they said have undermined the gains secured through the Visitor's (Governor Bala Mohammed) goodwill.
“Foremost is the Management's failure to clear the backlog of salary arrears as clearly stipulated in item 3 of the MoU, which mandated that all outstanding financial claims be fully settled within the period of not more than twelve (12) months, which expired on the 9th December 2025, yet the Management has failed to honour this obligation.
“This is despite receiving the unprecedented funding in the University's history, the Management intentionally skipped three months of salary arrears, payment which usually comes after monthly salary payment. This action is unjustifiable,insensitive, and a direct violation of the agreement.”
The lecturers expressed deep dissatisfaction regarding the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme. They said that although deductions have commenced, the actuarial valuation of the pension backlog already completed and duly submitted, has not received the required government response, leaving staff uncertain about their retirement benefits.
They said that the benefits of some of the deceased members remain unsettled. Union and the University Management, which has been the opening item of the MoU.
“ASUU-SAZU has repeatedly written formal correspondences seeking clarification, updates, and engagement on issues relating to the MoU implementation, yet the Management has either ignored or refused to acknowledge most of these letters.
“For instance, the Union's letter dated 14/08/2025 on paltry payment of our wage arrears received no response.Another letter dated 19/11/2025, seeking clarification on the status of non payment of some of our members' entitlements, was similarly disregarded.”
Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of University, Auwal Hassan said that the management would respond appropriately to the issues raised by the lecturers.
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