By Waziri Isa Adam
The four in-house staff unions of the Federal University Dutsin-Ma, FUDMA, have commended Vice Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Khalid Othman, for repositioning staff welfare as a central priority of his administration.
The commendations were made separately by the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU; Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU; Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU; and the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT.
Dr. Dahiru Rabe, Chairman of ASUU, FUDMA branch, said the management’s concern for staff well-being “deserves commendation.” He listed rice distribution, payment of outstanding allowances, and the provision of shuttle services between the Main and Take-off Campuses as key interventions that have eased the financial and logistical burden on staff.
According to Dr. Rabe, ASUU is complementing the university’s efforts by engaging private transport companies to create more affordable commuting options for members. “Staff welfare is a shared responsibility. We have our plan, but we will not make it public until it materializes,” he said.
Comrade Peter Seri, Chairman of SSANU, FUDMA chapter, stated that the welfare drive has restored staff confidence and given workers “a renewed sense of belonging.” He added that improved welfare has translated directly into higher motivation and job satisfaction. However, he appealed to management to increase the fleet of shuttle buses to reduce overcrowding and waiting time between the two campuses.
Speaking for NASU, Secretary Comrade Sulaiman Ibrahim Aliyu expressed the union’s “absolute support” for the welfare policies, noting that the initiatives have given staff a “motivational face.” He also urged management to procure additional buses to strengthen the shuttling system.
NAAT’s Public Relations Officer, Sulaiman Yusuf Maigora, said NAAT is in “100 percent support” of Prof. Othman’s administration. While NAAT has no plan to provide vehicles for members, he joined the call for more shuttle buses to improve inter-campus movement.
All four unions highlighted the June 2026 payment of five months’ Hazard Allowance arrears approved by Prof. Othman as a major boost to staff morale and household finances. The payment, they said, demonstrated management’s commitment to clearing long-standing welfare obligations.
The unions also acknowledged ongoing investments in campus security, water supply, electricity, and efforts to decongest the Take-off Campus by relocating some faculties and students to the Main Campus.
Comrade Seri noted that “any organization that neglects the well-being of its workforce will definitely contend with low morale and productivity,” and said FUDMA is now moving in the opposite direction. The union leaders concluded that the administration’s focus on welfare is creating a more stable, motivated, and productive workforce, which is critical to achieving the university’s academic and developmental goals.