BIUST employees protest unpaid dues, mismanagement
staff writer | Monday June 1, 2026 14:50
Staff protested on Friday morning and handed over a petition to the Council chair, Howard Sigwele, and other officials, outlining a list of grievances.
Chief amongst the complaints is unpaid Performance Management System (PMS) dues and allegations that significant backpays are owed, after an apparent administrative miscalculation. Employees want the Council to establish how much government allocated to BIUST for the PMS versus what was actually paid out to employees.
“When did management first receive information from staff members that the PMS calculation formula being used was incorrect, through letters written to HR and through engagements with unions and staff representatives? “When did management formally admit that staff members had been paid incorrectly,” reads the petition.
Employees also claim that they have been denied Cost of Living adjustments for more than four years, while academic staff promotions have not been called for an extended period “further worsening staff dissatisfaction”.
“What has deeply disturbed staff members is that during this same period of financial hardship, the executive management team saw it fit to circumvent the Presidential Directive regarding the acquisition of executive vehicles. “Instead of complying with the spirit of the directive, which sought modest and reasonable expenditure on official vehicles such as Toyota Fortuners, management instead awarded themselves transport allowances, despite the difficult financial conditions affecting both the University and the country at large.”
The protestors also want stern action take against management for allegedly punishing a whistleblower by dismissal, a case the workers say has gone all the way to the High Court.
“We understand that the courts ruled that the whistleblower should be reinstated, yet BIUST management has proceeded to appeal the matter. “This development has raised serious questions among staff members regarding governance, accountability, and the culture within the institution,” reads the petition.
In a brief response to the petition, BIUST said the institution remains committed to dialogue, collaboration and mutual respect, adding that further engagements with staff would ensue.
“The issues raised in the petition are being reviewed and given the attention they deserve,” reads a statement from the institution. “The BIUST Council will engage closely with the management and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the matters are addressed in a structured and transparent manner.”