Musa Na Allah, Sokoto
The Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto State University (SSU), Prof. Bello Yarima, has accused the institution’s joint unions of staging a politically motivated protest aimed at destabilising the university’s management, describing their demands as misplaced and procedurally flawed.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Prof. Yarima criticised the unions for calling for the removal of the university’s bursar, noting that the officer was duly appointed by the Sokoto State Government three years ago, well before he assumed office as vice-chancellor.
“The bursar was appointed before I became vice-chancellor, and I do not have the authority to remove him.
“If there were genuine concerns, the appropriate channel was the state government, not a protest directed at my office,” Yarima said.
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) had staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday, alleging that the bursar was overdue for retirement.
However, the vice-chancellor dismissed the action as belated and questionable, wondering why the unions did not raise the issue at the time of the bursar’s posting from the state civil service.
“I suspect sabotage, hypocrisy, and foul play. The intention is clearly to undermine the management, despite my openness and prompt efforts to resolve the matter amicably,” he said.
Prof. Yarima described the protest as unbecoming of academics, stressing that scholars should lead in constructive problem-solving rather than escalate issues for political advantage.
He also commended Governor Ahmad Aliyu for his intervention and support for the university, revealing that the state government had settled N700 million owed to visiting and sabbatical lecturers, as well as a N600 million backlog of Earned Academic Allowances and promotion arrears.
According to the vice-chancellor, the state government is already taking steps to harmonize staff demands in line with the Federal Government–ASUU agreement, further demonstrating its commitment to education, as reflected in the allocation of 30 per cent of the state budget to the sector.
He recalled that ASUU, SSANU, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NAAT) had earlier commended Governor Aliyu on March 29 for implementing salary increments agreed with the Federal Government.
