ASUU Wudil rejects new governing documents, directs members to boycott implementation

Kola Oyelere Kano

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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, describing the process leading to their approval as illegal and contrary to established procedures
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The position of the union was contained in a communiqué issued on Monday and signed by the branch chairman, Dr. Aliyu Yusuf Ahmad, and secretary, Dr. Abubakar Ibrahim Tukur, following a congress meeting of the union.

ASUU said it rejected the documents in their entirety, citing the failure of the university administration to comply with procedures for amending the governing document as stipulated under Section 21 of the KUST Amendment Law 2017.

The union consequently directed its members to refrain from recognizing or using the documents pending the resolution of the dispute.

According to the communiqué, the branch has also sought the approval of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) to commence active non-compliance with the new documents until the matter and other outstanding demands are addressed by the university administration.

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The union maintained that it had consistently promoted industrial harmony and academic stability within the institution, noting that its commitment had been reinforced by the efforts of the Kano State Government to improve staff welfare and strengthen higher education in the state.

However, ASUU expressed concern over what it described as attempts by the university administration to impose governing documents that could be detrimental to the institution’s development.

“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,” the communiqué stated.

The union further alleged that the documents were approved without adequate consultation with stakeholders and without adherence to the provisions of the KUST Amendment Law 2017, as well as relevant labour laws and conventions.

ASUU also questioned the legitimacy of the governing council that approved the documents, arguing that it was not properly constituted in line with Statute 5, Section 1 of the university law. The union claimed that the administration failed to convene a Senate meeting for the election of Senate representatives to the council.

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In addition, the union accused the university management of several other violations of the institution’s governing law, including the alleged failure to release audited financial accounts for more than three years and the non-convening of statutory meetings such as those of the University Senate and the Budget Monitoring Committee.

The university administration had yet to respond to the allegations as of the time of filing this report.