The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) chapter at Kano University of Science and Technology (KUST), Wudil, has taken a firm stance against what it describes as an unlawful revision of the institution’s governing document. The union has directed its members to completely disregard and avoid using the newly introduced document.
In a communiqué released after a recent congress meeting, union leaders Dr. Aliyu Yusuf Ahmad (Chairman) and Dr. Abubakar Ibrahim Tukur (Secretary) highlighted that the university administration failed to follow the proper procedures outlined in Section 21 of the KUST Amendment Law 2017 for amending such documents. As a result, the union rejected the documents in their entirety.
The congress expressed deep dismay over the administration’s decision to impose what they termed harmful and injurious documents on staff, which they believe undermine the university’s development. The union also alleged that the new governing document was approved without engaging relevant stakeholders and without due process, contravening Section 21 of the law and other local and international labour laws.
Furthermore, the union pointed out that the university’s Governing Council that approved the document was not properly constituted. According to Statute 5, Section 1 of the KUST Amendment Law 2017, a senate meeting should have been convened to elect a senate representative to the council, which was not done. Additional allegations include failure to release audited accounts for over three years and failure to hold statutory meetings such as the University Senate and Budget Monitoring Committee.
The union has called on the National Executive Council of ASUU to back their active non-compliance until the administration addresses these issues and other demands. Despite the conflict, the union reiterated its commitment to industrial harmony and academic stability, noting that its stance is strengthened by the Kano State government’s efforts to improve staff welfare and promote higher education.