The hullabaloo surrounding the
recently shared productivity bonus, popularly known as
“Christmas Bonus” would
likely tear the peaceful relationship existing among the staffers of the Nnamdi
Azikiwe University, (NAU), Awka, Anambra State, if not quickly addressed.
Although now four months old, it
was gathered that lecturers and non-teaching staff who were allegedly
discriminated while distributing the largesse last year are yet saddened and
full of heavy heart against the university management, but preferred to fight
back in trenches to avoid further victimization.
The genesis of the annual free
gifts, according to our investigation, is Prof. Ilochi Okafor, who was the
university Vice Chancellor between 2003 to 2008, and continued till the end of
Prof. Boniface Egboka’s dispensation, who handed over the mantle of leadership
to the incumbent VC, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku last year.
The bonus usually include 100kg or 50kg bags of rice, gallons
of groundnut oil, tomatoes, stock-fish, among other condiments, and they are
been dashed out for free to all workers without prejudice but in accordance to
their ranks or level, mostly between 20 to 24 December ahead of Christmas
celebration each year.
However, two aggrieved teaching and
non-teaching staff of the university, who spoke to us under the condition of
anonymity, alleged that Prof. Aheneku and his management team denied them
access to the bonus sequel to disciplinary action.
“Prof. Aheneku and his team are
currently using it to punish what they termed indiscipline staff. They don’t
give it to people like us, who had received one or more administrative queries
which is improper. I for instance, have received two queries for been late to
office. I replied the query and was pardoned 10 months ago…”, said an aggrieved
staff.
“However, when the time ripe for the
distribution last December, the management issued a circular which insisted
that we would not get even a portion of the items. After a day or two,
specifically at our Christmas Carol, the VC openly forgave us our sins and
charged the committee to ensure we get our possessions. We thanked God, went
and collected ours. But as soon as the university resumed from December break,
we were asked through another circular to return those items again…We quickly
returned them, after a week, they urged us to come for our goodies again. And
some of us refused because the entire process is frustrating, disgusting, sham
and absolutely condemnable”, the staff concluded.
But when contacted in his office,
the Director, Information and Public Relations/Chief Protocol Officer, Dr.
Emmanuel Ojukwu said it was as a result of unavoidable omission which was never
intended to victimize anyone irrespective of offences.
His words: “We have a committee
handling the productivity bonus. This administration is not vindictive of
anyone. It is a fair administration, although strict on optimum service
delivery and discipline. No single staff was witch-haunted for any reason.
Those who did not receive their productivity bonus at first, were the staff
whose names were omitted. And when we discovered that, we quickly procured more
items and inform them to come for materials through our university bulletin.
Also speaking, Mr. Alex Amuzie, the
Chairman, NAU Staff Productivity Bonus Committee, refuted the allegation,
stressing that “NAU has never victimized a person through productivity bonus.
The people whose own were inadvertently not giving on time, was due to
omission. And we took proactive measure in making theirs available for
collection. As I’m talking to you now, the remaining persons have collected
theirs. Some are in the store waiting should in case anyone.
By Okechukwu Onuegbu
Tension in Unizik as Productivity Bonus Tears Staff Apart
Reviewed by Unknown
on
Monday, April 20, 2015
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