New students of Federal University Dutsinma stranded over shortage of staff
Katsina: In what appears to be the repercussion of the unintelligent sacking of over 200 staff of the institution, shortage of lecturers and other important staff has hit the Federal University of Dutsinma, leaving newly admitted students stranded.
It was gathered that the admission list for new students into 100 and direct entry students for 200 level that was made public three months ago are still yet to resume, due to the absence of lecturers that would ensure the success of their academic activities.
Findings from staff and students of the institution pointed to the rash decision taken by the institution in terminating appointment of several qualified staff including professors, a development that is now bringing the institution to its knees.
One of those spoken to who pleaded anonymity said that the situation is so bad that an entire department is having no single academic staff.
“I suspect that the new students are yet to resume because of shortage of staff. In some departments like Food Science Technology, all the lecturers were sacked. In Political Science and Accounting Departments, several lecturers were also sent packing,” he added.
Also speaking, a lecturer from the Faculty of Sciences described the prevailing condition of academic staff as unfortunate.
He explained that a lecturer, who is supposed to take only one course at the moment, is handling between seven to eight courses.
“We don’t have enough lecturers in the Chemistry Department where I am lecturing. A lecturer is handling seven to eight courses which is not supposed to be so,” he added.
He said that all the hardship is as a result of the sacking of other lecturers for no just cause.
When the Registrar of the institution, Aliyu Dalha Kankia was contacted on phone to respond to the development, he didn’t pick several calls put through to his GSM line, and did not return the calls.
A text message was subsequently sent to his GSM phone, which he also failed to respond.
It would be recalled that the Federal University of Dutsinma was one of those established by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
On the appointment of a new VC, Registrar and Governing Board Chairman, all for Katsina State, over 200 staff were unjustly sacked, a decision that sparked outrage from several Nigerians who were wondering the place of Federal Character, seeing that those affected were not indigenes of Katsina State.
