The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Sokoto State University Branch (ASUU-SSU), has accused the Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto S...
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Sokoto State University Branch (ASUU-SSU), has accused the Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto State University of refusing to implement a directive issued by the Governor of Sokoto State regarding the retirement of the institution’s Bursar.
In a statement issued on Monday, December 8, 2025, the union commended the Governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, for approving the retirement of the Bursar in line with the Sokoto State University Law of 2009. According to ASUU, the approval was conveyed through the Office of the Head of the State Civil Service via a letter referenced HS/ADM/101/VOL-1 and dated November 18, 2025.
The directive instructed the Bursar—who had reached the statutory retirement age since October 3, 2024—to immediately hand over the affairs of the Bursary Department to the most senior officer pending the appointment of a substantive Bursar. ASUU said the Bursar had remained in office despite being served with a retirement notification by the Civil Service Commission.
However, the union expressed shock that nearly one month after receiving the Governor’s directive, the Vice-Chancellor had yet to arrange the official handover.
ASUU-SSU Chairperson, Comrade Bello Musa, said the union wrote two reminder letters to the Vice-Chancellor, held two separate meetings with him, but “no positive action was taken.”
He stated that the VC insisted he had earlier received an approval from the Ministry for Higher Education in 2024 confirming the Bursar’s appointment as a university staff.
The union argued that the Governor’s current directive overrides any previous communication and that allowing a retiree to continue signing official documents violates both civil service rules and university autonomy.
ASUU noted that it has consistently defended the autonomy of Nigerian universities and commended the Governor for his willingness to listen to concerns raised by the union. It further urged him to ensure that official channels remain open and that genuine correspondence reaches his office without obstruction.
The union said its peaceful protest on campus was to demand the immediate enforcement of the Governor’s directive for the sake of industrial harmony. It warned that it would be compelled to take further action if the situation remains unchanged.
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