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Ahmad Tijjani
KANO – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Kano University of Science and Technology (KUST), Wudil Branch, has rejected newly reviewed governing documents introduced by the university administration, alleging that the process violated provisions of the institution’s enabling law.
The position was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the union’s congress meeting and signed by the branch chairman, Dr. Aliyu Yusuf Ahmad, and secretary, Dr. Abubakar Ibrahim Tukur.
According to the communiqué, the union condemned what it described as the “illegal review” of the governing documents and the attempt to impose them on members without adherence to laid-down procedures.
ASUU said it rejected the documents in their entirety, arguing that the university administration failed to comply with Section 21 of the Kano University of Science and Technology Amendment Law 2017, which outlines the procedure for amending such documents.
“The Union rejects the documents in their totality due to the failure of the University Administration to comply with the laid-down procedures of amending the document as enshrined in Section 21 of the KUST Amendment Law 2017,” the communiqué stated.
The union consequently directed its members to refrain from recognizing or using any of the documents pending the resolution of the dispute. It also disclosed that it had sought the approval of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU to commence active non-compliance until the issues raised by the branch are addressed.
While reaffirming its commitment to industrial harmony and academic stability, ASUU acknowledged the efforts of the Kano State Government toward improving staff welfare and advancing higher education in the state.
However, the union expressed concern over what it termed harmful provisions contained in the reviewed documents.
“Congress observed with dismay the action of the University Administration to impose the new governing documents on members that are harmful and injurious to the development of the University,” it stated.
ASUU further alleged that the documents were approved without adequate consultation with stakeholders and in violation of relevant legal provisions and labour conventions.
The union also questioned the legitimacy of the Governing Council that approved the documents, claiming that it was not properly constituted in line with Statute 5, Section 1 of the KUST Amendment Law 2017.
According to the communiqué, the university administration failed to convene a Senate meeting for the election of a Senate representative to the council before the approval was granted.
In addition, the union accused the administration of other statutory violations, including the alleged failure to release audited accounts of the university for more than three years and the non-convening of regular statutory meetings such as Senate and Budget Monitoring Committee sessions.
“This is in addition to other flagrant violations of the provisions of the University Law such as refusal to release audited accounts of the University for over three years and failure to hold regular statutory meetings,” the communiqué added.
Efforts to obtain the reaction of the university administration were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
