STAKEHOLDERS and workers of Edo State owned-Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma have expressed grave concerned over the seeming loss of control of the University by the Visitor to the University and Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki as a result of fragrant disregard of his directive(s) in the management and administration of the University.
The stakeholders and workers stated this on Wednesday March 8, 2023 at Ekpoma against the backdrop of incessant disobedience of the Visitor’s directive(s) to the University Administration, particularly in relation to unpaid salary arrears, check-of dues and other sundry deductions in the university.
In particular, they accused the Special Intervention Team (SIT) and the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Asomwan Sonnie Adagbonyin of harbouring evil agenda in their deliberate refusal to abide by the directive(s) of government meant to end the lingering salary crisis in the university.
The stakeholders and workers recalled the specific directive of the Edo State Government given in June, 2022 on the immediate payment of all outstanding salaries in the University, which, the stakeholders and workers said was obeyed in gross default by the Acting Vice Chancellor.
According to them “Prof. Adagbonyin deliberately refused to comply with Edo State Government’s directive on 8th June, 2022 asking the AVC and the University Administration to pay all outstanding emoluments of workers in the University with effect from 8th June, 2022.”
The stakeholders and workers said that contrary to the wide-spread claim in the social media, which indicated that the Edo State Government had paid all outstanding salaries of staff in AAU, Ekpoma, SIT and University Administration have willingly disobeyed the government directive in this regard.
The social media has been dominated since last week by the news that the salaries and arrears of over 504 teaching and non teaching staff in AAU have been paid on the 3rd of March 2023 by the Edo State Government.
They urged the Edo State Government to hold SIT and Prof. Adagbonyin responsible for the continuous embarrassment of the State Government over non-payment of salaries in the University.
Reacting to the recent circular of Edo State Government on “year 2022 promotion”, the stakeholders and workers expressed doubt if the circular would be respected by the University Administration, given the precedents of disrespect to the State Government directive(s) in the university by SIT and Prof. Adagbonyin.
They alleged that the University Administration has held down the promotion of vast majority of workers for several years, adding that, while many staff have had their promotion held for 3 years, some have been denied promotion for more than 6 years.
Investigations revealed that duly processed reports of the University’s Appointments and Promotions Committee (Academic), covering the appraisal years of 2016, 2017 and 2018, 2019 and those of other categories of staff in the University have been put in abeyance by SIT and University Administration without justifiable cause or reason. This has resulted in the morale of staff being at the lowest ebb.
The stakeholders and workers expressed grave concern why Mr. Austin Osakue whose alleged highest educational qualification is just a National Certificate of Education (NCE) holder would be allowed to continue to preside over the University in a twenty-first century.
They called on the State Government to act fast on the salary crisis to save the university from total collapse.
