The Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Thursday said they have lost 25 of their members since 2021 when the Special Intervention Team (SIT) set up by Governor Godwin Obaseki which they said is illegal took over the running of the university.
Addressing a press conference in Benin City, the chairman of the Union, Dr Cyril Onogbosele said the current principal officers of the university led by the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Professor Asomwan Adagbonyin is like a toothless bulldog that could not even put on the school generator without reverting to the SIT who he alleged has turned the school on its head.
Among a litany of anomalies leveled against the SIT by Onogbosele included every staff paying access fees deducted at source for staff to get to their workplace, an action he said was against the Labour Laws of the country.
He also alleged that some staff were being owed salaries for 26 months why some staff of the university’s names were removed from the school’s payroll at the “whims and caprices” of the SIT.
He said “Since 2nd August 2021, we have lost not less than 25 members of the ASUU. We have records of our members who were sick and could not take care of themselves, could not afford drugs because they have not been paid. When you are not getting your pay, it takes its toll on you and then one falls sick within the same period
The University is in comatose with the consequences of workers facing hardship and leaving in droves while the number of prospective students to the University/enrolment through JAMB had dropped from more than fourteen thousand (14,000) in the previous years to barely three thousand (3000) in 2024.
“AAU, Ekpoma is presently bleeding and at its lowest and darkest period in its historical trajectory as a result of a continuing systemic decimation of the University by the actions and inactions of Edo State Government in concert with its SIT in the University.”
He said the state government was also using the Contributory Pension Scheme “to intimidate and harass our members to voluntarily retire from the services of the University on or before 29th February, 2024 against the University’s law and scheme of service.”
Efforts to reach the University authority proved abortive as our reporter was told that “The Vice Chancellor and others are in an important meeting and I believe they will respond to the issues appropriately” a staff in the Vice Chancellor’s office volunteered when contacted on phone.
Several calls to Mr Austin Osakue, a member of the SIT who has been accused of taking over the affairs of the team were not picked nor returned as at the time of filing this report.
