From Mika’il Tsoho, Dutse
In his bid to strengthen staff welfare especially accommodation, the new Vice-Chancellor Federal University Dutse, Professor Ahmad Muhammed Gumel has announced the allocation of 1000 President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Houses to the Federal University Dutse.
Professor Gumel made the announcement during an interactive session with Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU),Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities(SSANU), Non- Teaching Staff Union(NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists(NAAT).
He said staff welfare is one of the cardinal principles of his 11 points Agenda adding that one the Coordinators of the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme came to congratulate him as well as allocated 1000 of the Houses in Janguza Kano state to the university.
Professor Gumel expressed his gratitude over the Houses adding that he is ready to assist staff to benefit from the scheme.
The new VC said though the houses are in Kano, staff can acquire them as important asset. In a related development Prof. Gumel also informed the unions that he has written a letter to the Jigawa state government for the acquisition of some of the Danmodi Housing estate adjacent the university and he has received positive response over the matter.
He told the unions that in the long run he has a plan to go into Public Private Partnership for the construction of staff quarters within the university.
Prof. Gumel told the unions that staff training and development is essential for the progress of the university and God willing he has deviced a way of getting funds for non- teaching staff training as well internal reasearch grant for academic staff.
He said he is aware of the state of the staff school and has directed the Registrar to set up a committee reorganise and revamp the staff school to make it befitting for staff to enrol their children.
The new VC told the unions that henceforth staff promotion will be reorganize such that the promotion cycle starts in April and promotion comes out in October adding Academic staff assessment will no longer be delayed because external assessors will now have timeline within which to return the papers or stand the risk of being withdrawn.
He said the ongoing salary advance scheme will be sustained adding that his administration is determined to embark upon aggressive Internally Generated Revenue drive in order to carry out projects as well invest in staff and students welfare.
Professor Gumel said his administration will revive and standardize the University Guest House, University farm, Consultancy ,Centre for Entrepreneurship Development among many others so that the university can improve its IGR.
He called for the loyalty, cooperation and support of the unions because this administration according to him is for the people adding that his doors are always open for advise on how to move the university forward.
