The management of Sa’adu Zungur University (SAZU) in Bauchi State has refuted claims that 30 PhD holders have resigned from the institution. This denial follows announcements made by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which cited dissatisfaction with the university’s salary structure as the reason for the alleged resignations.
In a statement issued by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Auwal Hassan, the institution described the claims as “inaccurate and unfounded.” Hassan clarified that SAZU has not received any resignation letters from the supposed 30 PhD holders or any significant number of academic staff for salary-related issues.
“Our records indicate that only six PhD holders have exited or are away from the university in the past 1 year and 10 months, citing various personal reasons unrelated to salary concerns,” he explained.
Hassan also provided insight into the current staff situation at the university, noting that some academic staff are on sabbatical leave, secondment, or leave of absence, while others were dismissed for disciplinary reasons. He stated that SAZU has a total of 397 academic staff, including 18 Professors, 9 Readers, and various ranks of lecturers.
Furthermore, Hassan emphasized that the university, with the support of Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, has prioritized the welfare and development of its staff. He highlighted that initiatives have been implemented to enhance working conditions, including timely salary payments and addressing promotion arrears.
The situation remains a topic of concern as the university seeks to maintain its staff and address any underlying issues related to employee satisfaction and retention.