How Dutsin-Ma University reinstated 250 officials – Ag VC
The Acting VC of Federal University Dutsin-Ma, Prof Armaya’u Hamisu Bichi, says he has succeeded in building peace, boosting teaching and strengthening the institution by recalling staff unjustifiably sacked and encouraging dialogue.
You were appointed acting Vice Chancellor about six months ago amid crises including industrial disputes, suspension of a VC which is still in court, termination of employment of several officials and issues on employee motivation. How have you dealt with these issues?
We were able to address most of the problems through effective collaborations between management and staff and we succeeded in building peace at the university by recalling staff unjustifiably sacked. Only few, about 20 of the reinstated officials, have not started work and we are on the process of re-engaging them. But more than 250 have been fully settled and reintegrated into the system. The employees are more contented because we boosted their morale by conducting backlog of promotions and paying them all their entitlements; that motivated them and they are working very hard.
We allowed unions to operate - all the three unions, ASUU, SSANU, and NASU even students’ union were allowed to hold elections. We encourage dialogue between parties and with that we can together move the system. One person cannot move any system; it is the collective responsibility of all. I have been very open and transparent, allowing all to contribute in running the university. We employed over 250 academic staff and 200 non-academic staff to boost teaching and strengthen the university.
Several directorates are said to have been created. Why do you need them, especially in this evolving institute?
At the start, there was only one directorate, but at present, we have created close to six new ones. They are in line with the mandate and objectives of the university and in response to the needs of the area. For example, Centre for Desert and Desertification Monitoring, Research and Control was because we are bordering the Sahara Desert and we intend to get researches done to curtail the effects of desertification and erosion. The ecological office in the Presidency has agreed to help us, in that direction.
We have Directorates of Innovation and Research and Continuing Education for people who may not go for normal classes, especially secondary and primary school teachers because of age or other things. We came up with it to help them in that respect. We also have a Directorate of General Studies; they are all established to make the system work faster and efficiently. Others are Centre for Renewable Energy Research and Centre for Innovation.
Nevertheless, the main challenge facing the university is lack of funding. For example, in our permanent site, we have facilities like hostels, with almost 1,000 bed spaces there, but we cannot utilise them because of issue of security; the place is not fenced and we need money to do that before students can start sleeping there. Even with that, our movement to the site will just be partial; we can take the students in the morning and bring them back in the evening.
The employments of some officials were allegedly terminated by the management headed by the suspended VC. What were the issues and why did you recall them?
They were just sacked unjustly, for no reason at all. They came to work one day and they were given termination letters.
Can you give clarification on an agreement signed between the university and Katsina State government on the Songhai Initiative?
We are in collaboration with the state government on the taking over of the Katsina Songhai Initiative Farm, in Dutsin-ma. We approached the state government for a partnership; since the place is idle we seek to manage it, on behalf of the government, with our resources; human and financial. We see that if we are allowed to handle it, we will do it more efficiently with more transparency and supervision.
We are sure it can be used for teaching and research and even for commercial purposes. The state government has agreed in principle and we can sign MOU to take over the place. We are now at that stage and we have nominated our team and waiting for government before we draft the MOU.
The university is situated around a farming community and is aiming to promote agriculture. How are the people enjoying its presence in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and catchment consideration?
We are strictly abiding by guidelines on admissions. There are percentages of candidates to admit from educationally disadvantage states, we are following it strictly. These things were initiated by the pioneer vice chancellor but the former vice chancellor suspended them. But we have reintroduced them. Students who got CGPA of 4.5 and above are placed on VC Honour List and given free tuition and even book allowances; students with less on Dean List and given book allowance. We have a programme for supporting host communities around us.
Recently we conducted free medical services at Daurawa village; took all our doctors there for house-to-house medication and provided free drugs. We agreed to train primary school teachers from Safana town to be more efficient in English language, Mathematics and Computer Science. We have donated computers to many secondary schools and repaired their chairs and desks. Our veterinary clinic has for long been receiving and treating animals from herders. We offer services and help develop livestock production as well.
Security at permanent site
has been a serious problem for new universities. Have you been able to work that out?
We need money to fence the site; we are recruiting more security to man the place. At the moment, we have more than 10 policemen, civil defence and other security personnel there.
Internal Revenue Generation (IGR) is at the pinnacle of any higher institution. Have you enhanced your IGR?
We are trying to diversify our IGR because of our peculiar situation of not having much. The IGR we are proposing is based on agriculture; we have a large farm where we are cultivating cash crops. We have poultry and fish farms and all these are helping us to generate more revenue.
We breed and rear animals to sell to university community and host communities, and by the time we take the Songhai Initiative Farm from Katsina State government, I am sure we will design a revenue formula for profit sharing that will ginger and boost our revenue.
There were allegations of corrupt practices involving people in the system. What are you doing in this regard?
There is the need for an anti-corruption unit that can receive and investigate complaints against any individual. I set up the Freedom of Information Office and appointed a desk officer, a deputy registrar, for anybody looking for any information. The moment you write to the office, in less than 24 hours we provide you with what you want.
We have a very vibrant anticorruption and transparency unit headed by a Reader, looking at issues of corruption within the system. This is also in line with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance on corruption; we cannot condone any corrupt issue. We are open and anybody with vital information can pass it.