ASUU holds special Congress for 22 retirees lecturers of Unijos

The University of Jos branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASSU), on Thursday organised a special Congress for 22 retired lecturers of the institution to appreciate their services for the ivory tower which they dedicated their whole lives for.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman ASUU Unijos branch, Dr. Lazarus Maigoro said before now, the system does not appreciate lectures who have put in their entire life to the service of the institution.

He said it was wrong to allow the lectures to exit the University without recognition, adding that celebrating them will also serve as a motivation for other lecturers who have not reached the retirement stage to increase their capacity.

According to him: “We decided to host the retirees in the services they have rendered to the university. It is a service rendered selflessly with all their heart. They committed their whole lives to the university system teaching students.

“Some of them taught us and today they are retiring and the system does not appreciate such services. So we as a union said let’s start somewhere because these lectures brought the university to where it is today and we cannot afford to just let them retire quietly and go into oblivion.

“This is our reason for this special Congress as it also serve as a motivation to those who are still in the system so that when it gets to their own turn, they will also be appreciated”, the ASUU Chairman said.

Maigoro said the union intends to make the event an annual one because every year lectures retire.

Reacting to the gesture, one of the retirees, Prof. Gray Goziem Ejikeme said even though they are retiring, they will still be useful to the university.

Ejikeme said they are open for consultancy and that the system can engage them when necessary.