Crisis is brewing at the Delta State Owned university (DELSU) over the recent introduction of “Clock in Clock out” policy by the management of the institution
The new measure, described as “barbaric, and evil” by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU) DELSU branch, has paralyzed activities in the university.
ASUU DELSU in its position at the weekend, and in a letter dated August 10, 2018, signed by its chairman, Professor Abel Diakparomre and Dr. Emmanuel Ufuophu Biri, Secretary, respectively, made available to DAILY POST stated that the policy was unacademic, unprecedented, and a deviation from best practices in the global academic community.
The letter addressed to the Higher Education Commissioner in the state, Mr. Jude Senibe, said, “Following announcement of the policy by the university’s Deputy Registrar (Establishment), Mr. Emmanuel Egheneji through a memo dated July 31, 2018, the said memo stated that effect from August 1, 2018, academic staff are to ” clock-in clock-out” each time they resume and close from duties.
“After extensive deliberation, Congress resolved the university is a creation of law which has self regulating provision and that the academic of the university would continue to be guided by those provisions.”
It explained that “the policy of Clocking-in Clocking-out is not academic, it is unprecedented, and a deviation from best practices in the global academic community.”
The Union noted that the university lecturers were involved in teaching, research, and community development, hence would continue to discharge their responsibilities with regard to the obligations, adding that the said policy was a threat to the globally cherished non-negotiable autonomy of the university which it will continue to defend.
They called on the state Governor, and visitor to the university to see those behind the policy as saboteurs who did not wish him well, especially with 2019 elections close.
“We reject in its entirety the “clock in clock out” policy for academic staff in Delta State University and request the visitor to the university to use his good offices to direct those behind this application of “clock in clock out” policy to academic staff to refrain”, the statement added.
But in a swift reaction, the vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Victor Peretemode told DAILY POST that “the university management can’t change the decision of the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa. It is a way of fishing out ghost workers, DELSU is not exceptional, ASUU is just creating unnecessary tension.”
Also, the commissioner for Higher Education in the state, Mr Jude Senibe said “the policy can’t be changed, it is the only way the state government can fish out ghost workers; the state wage bill at a time was so high, and we found it comfortable with the “clock in clock out” policy, it has been working for the system; lecturers, or not, they are workers under the Delta State government.”
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