The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has faulted the conversion of non-teaching staff to academic staff by some public universities in the country.

Christopher Piwuna, ASUU President, said this during a news conference on Friday in Jos.

Mr Piwuna particularly faulted the conversion process, adding that due process had not been followed.

“Our attention has been drawn to the upsurge of registrars, bursars and other administrative and technical staff converting to academic staff in public universities without following due process.

“Oftentimes, these categories of staff may claim academic status for the reason of undergoing postgraduate programmes.

“In certain instances, deputy registrars with PhD degrees got converted to Lecturer I at the point of entry with personalised salaries,” he said.

He also claimed that registrars were converted to senior lecturers or readers on the grounds of questionable publications and records of proxy teaching.

He said ASUU was not against the move but advised that due process and merit should be followed in conducting such an exercise.

He explained that where the laws permitted conversion, such moves were usually treated as fresh appointments.

“ASUU finds this trend highly disturbing and so calls on vice chancellors and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to live up to their billing and put a firm stop to the anomaly.

“We are not averse to changing career lines in the universities; however, non-teaching staff who wish to change to the teaching cadre should participate in selection interviews guided by extant conditions and criteria,” he said.

He said academic qualification was a prerequisite for recruitment into lecturing, but not sufficient.

Mr Piwuna, who acknowledged the paucity of academic staff in public universities, insisted that only qualified persons should be allowed to lecture.

(NAN)