ASUU faults conversion of non-teaching staff to teaching cadre by varsities

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), has faulted the conversation of non-teaching staff to academic staff by some public universities in the country.

Prof. Christopher Piwuna, the President of ASUU, said this during a news conference on Friday in Jos.

Piwuna, particularly faulted the process of the conversation, adding that due process had not been adhered to in the exercise.

“Our attention has been drawn to the upsurge of Registrars, Bursars and other administrative and technical staff converting to academic staff in public universities without following due process.

“Often times these categories of staff may claim academic status for reason of undergoing postgraduate programmes.

“In certain instances, Deputy Registrars with PhD degrees got converted to Lecturer I at the point of entry with personalized salaries,” he said.

He also claimed that there were instances of registrars being converted to senior lecturers or readers with the excuse of presenting some questionable publications and records of proxy teaching.

He said that ASUU was not against the move, but advised that due process and merit should be followed in the conduct of such exercise.

He explained that where the laws permitted for conversion, such moves were usually treated as fresh appointments.

“ASUU finds this trend highly disturbing, and so calls on Vice Chancellors and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to live up to their billings and put a firm stop to the anomaly.

“We are not averse to changing career lines in the universities, however, non-teaching staff who wish to change to teaching cadre should participate in selection interviews guided by extant conditions and criteria,” he said.

He said that while academic qualification was a prerequisite for recruitment into lecturership, it was not sufficient.

Piwuna, who acknowledged the paucity of academic staff in public universities, insisted that only qualified persons should be allowed to lecture.