Katsina varsity reinstates 300 workers, fires three over malpractice

• Union passes vote of confidence in TETFund’s secretary

About 300 academic and non-academic workers earlier sacked at the Federal University, Dutsinma, Katsina State have been reinstated.But, three lecturers and nine students were asked to go, following their involvement in examination malpractice.The acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Armaya’u Hamisu disclosed this yesterday in an interview.

He said the reinstated personnel were disengaged during the tenure of the immediate past vice chancellor.He explained that their recall followed an investigation, which showed that they were illegally disengaged, adding that the lecturers and students were sacked because the varsity was strongly opposed to malpractice.

While promising to promote the interest of both students and workers in welfare-related issues, he disclosed that the school would promote workers across board from October 1, 2017.

According to him, this would be the first time that such general promotions would be made since the school was established five years ago.He disclosed that the state government-owned multi-billion naira Shongai farms might be leased to the institution to help in generate g revenue to meet its financial challenges.

Meanwhile, the Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) has passed a vote of confidence in the Executive Secretary, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Dr. Abdullahi Bichi Baffa.

The National President of the union, Danladi Ali Msheliza disclosed this in Abuja yesterday, when he led members of his executives on a visit to his office.The union commended Baffa’s commitment to checking process abuse and ensuring a judicious utilisation of intervention funds among beneficiary institutions.

Msheliza said the decision to pass a vote of confidence in him was taken at the 24th National Delegates Conference at the College of Education, Minna, Niger State.

On the infractions that have been observed by the TETFund, Baffa condemned a situation where scholars and others abuse the intervention processes by not adhering to the guidelines stipulated by the fund.

According to him, some scholars who were sponsored to attend conferences or study for higher degrees abandoned the programmes or violate the terms of approvals granted them, after TETFund had released funds to them.