The Academic Staff of Universities (ASUU) University of Maiduguri Chapter has unequivocally condemned the N150,000 naira retirement benefit for professors and other seniors staff, describing it as an insensitivity and national disgrace to their collective intelligence.
Speaking shortly after protests at the institution’s campus, Abubakar Mshelia, the UNIMAID Chairman of the ASUU, warned that a country that treats its intellectuals with such disdain cannot expect meaningful progress.
Mahelia blasted the Federal Government that despite announcing a moratorium, the same Government recently approved nine new Private Universities without sustained the existing ones .
He said, “Professors who have dedicated over four decades to educating generations retire on a meagre #150,000 under the contributory pension scheme, while inflation exceeds 21 percent. This is not just a labour issue; it is a national disgrace. A country that treats it’s intellectuals with such disregard cannot expect meaningful progress”.
While lamenting lack of concern for staff welfare, he said “our members continue to suffer from unpaid salary arrears amounting to but no limited 25-35 percent wage reward. Promotion arrears, legally due to academics who earned them through merit, remain unpaid in many institutions for over four years”.
He further condemned the recent approval of nine new Private Universities by the Federal Government, calling it an act of “hypocrisy”
He further condemned the recent approval of nine new Private Universities by the Federal Government, calling it an act of “hypocrisy”
(Business Day)
