Kogi State: ASUU raises alarm over exodus of lecturers from University

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kogi State University chapter, has raised alarm over the progressive exodus of qualified lecturers from the institution.

The chairman of the chapter, Dr Oluwagbemiga Aina made the remark while briefing newsmen on Sunday in Lokoja.

He said that the exodus was adversely impacting on the quality of teaching and research and other academic activities in the university.

He attributed the cause to delay in payment of salaries and other sundry issues like non-payment of outstanding Earned Academic Allowance from 2009 to 2014.

Aina said that no fewer than 50 qualified lecturers had left the University for Greener Pastures.

“Where there are delays in payment of salaries, the chances of corruption is rife, “he said.

The chairman accused the government of failing to pay N1.1 billion outstanding arrears of earned academic allowances till date.

“After the initial payment of N125 million, the government reneged on its promised monthly install-mental payment of N25 million,” he said.

He appealed to Gov. Yahaya Bello, the Visitor to the university, to intervene to save the university from collapse by resolving all outstanding issues involving workers and the government.

Commenting on the two months old strike embarked upon by lecturers of the institution, Aina vowed that the action would be sustained until all their entitlements were paid.

“In fact, the resolution of congress is that the action will be invoked anytime delay in salary payment goes beyond the seventh day of the succeeding month,” he said.

He debunked claims that members of the union requested for tax exemption, saying they only requested for waiver and rebate to make up for the huge tax they paid in the past.

The ASUU Chairman commended Gov. Bello for summoning the courage to sanitize the state civil service.

“No doubt, the state is bedeviled by rot and corruption of varying magnitudes and dimensions.

“The rot in the civil service appeared to have defied solutions until recently, “he said. 

[NAN]