Professor Bernard Matur, Vice Chancellor of the Plateau State Unversity, Bokkos, has called on the academic staff of the institution to call off their ongoing strike.
Matur made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Jos. WikkiTimes had earlier explained why the institution’s chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) embarked on strike last Thursday.
Matur, while explaining the situation, said that the government had put modalities in place to foster a conducive working environment for its workers.
He promised to sustain the ongoing negotiations with the union, adding that all concerns of the lecturers would be amicably resolved “very soon”.
Matur highlighted some of the achievements in his first five months including the expansion of faculties from four to 10 and payment of eight months salary arrears owed workers.
“We have also cleared backlog of eleven years of academic allowances, paid promotion allowances to our staff, and also embarked on substantial infrastructural development.
“We initiated new programmes and now have Faculties of Law, Agriculture, Environmental Sciences and Health Sciences.
“Not long ago, the National Universities Commission (NUC) granted approval for the creation of the Faculty of Education.
“Three new programmes are also set to take off in the Faculty of Sciences – Zoology, Plant Science and Biotechnology.
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“These expansions are strategically designed to fulfil the admission requirements of both NUC and JAMB, while also addressing the immediate needs of our evolving environment,” he said
Matur thanked the Plateau government for its efforts toward ensuring that all academic programmes in the university had full accreditation.
“The administration of Governor Caleb Mutfwang has given the university every support, including resources, to get full accreditation for all academic programmes.
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”The governor also ensured the payment of backlog of salary arrears, earned allowances, promotion allowances, among others.
”Under this administration, the security of the university has also received a major boost.
”We have recruited 40 security personnel to add to the 89, while 21 local hunters were engaged by the university,” he said.
The vice chancellor advised students to continue with the ongoing registration for the new session, adding that negotiations with the striking lecturers toward resolving the issues were ongoing.
