The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma chapter has commended the constitution of the Governing Council of the institution.
Recall that the state governor, Godwin Obaseki made the announcement of the governing council chaired by Dr Omo- Ehijele Odafen on Thursday.
The school had been under the administration of the Special intervention Team despite the law setting up the SIT expiring in 2022.
The ASUU, AAU in a statement on Saturday by the Chairman, Dr Cyril Onogbosele and Secretary, Dr William Odion welcomed the development, while acknowledging the numerous challenges the new governing council is facing.
The statement reads, “In a move that signals a potential rebirth for Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, on Thursday, 11th July, 2024, the Edo State Government in accordance with AAU Law 1999 (as amended), announced the constitution of a seven-member governing council chaired by Dr Omo-Ehijele Odafen for the university, after a period of administrative aberration in the university.
“This development marks a significant departure from the tumultuous reign of the Special Intervention Team, which perpetuated a culture of crises and impunities that undermined the university’s autonomy and academic freedom.
“The Academic Staff Union of Universities, AAU, Ekpoma Chapter, welcomed this development while acknowledging the numerous challenges that the new governing council will grapple with.
“The announcement of the constitution of a governing council for the institution is appropriate. However, due to the numerous problems the reign of SIT in the university created, the newly constituted Governing Council will have to deal with a number of unresolved administrative lapses and staff welfare issues in the crises bedeviling the wellbeing of the university”.
ASUU said that the unresolved issues in the crises of the university include, unbridled breach of the University’s autonomy in terms of procedural self-governance, substantive independence and academic freedom; lack of funding of the university by the State Government and ad hoc administration of the University evidenced by the absence of substantive Principal Officers (Vice Chancellor, Registrar, Bursar, Liberian and Provost) in the university for the past three years.
Others crises, the body stated, are the arbitrary removal/replacement of elected deans of faculties; the problem of non-payment of salaries/allowances of many staff; non-implementation of the award of 25 per cent and 35 per cent increase in the salaries of academic staff in public universities in Nigeria by government; stoppage of third-party deductions (ASUU dues, staff welfare savings, among others) and non-remittance of deducted ASUU dues (September 2020, November 2021) by the university administration; delayed staff appraisal and promotion exercise; the recent notional promotion of staff (promotion without financial benefits) which was stopped a long time ago during the tenure of the Governing Council chaired by Prof. Eugene Okpere; selective issuance of promotion letters to staff; undue retirement/termination of the appointments of some staff; intimidation and victimization of staff by the university administration and fraudulent implementation of Edo Health Insurance Scheme (EDOHIS) in the university.
ASUU also stated that coercion of staff by the university administration to pay fees for access to their workplace in the university; running of some academic programmes, particularly in the College of Medicine in violation of National Universities Commission’s guidelines, and undue amendment of the university’s regulations governing the service of staff by the SIT/university administration are problems the new governing council will have to tackle.
ASUU added, “The current administration of the university by principal officers, including the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Asomwan Sonnie Adagbonyin in acting capacity for 2 years, is a violation of public service rule and it is time to make appointments of substantive principal officers in the university.
“We call for the timely inauguration of the council and restoration of funding by the Visitor to the University/Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.
“We also emphasise the urgent need for a return to normalcy in the governance of the university, academic excellence and revitalisation of the university’s intellectual and ethical fabric.
“As the university embarks on this new chapter, we implore the new governing council to engage in broad consultations with primary stakeholders of the university to comprehensively and wholly address the crises in the university.
“We urge the council to reconcile the contradictions of the past and steer the university towards a future of justice, peace, progress and academic distinction devoid of propaganda,” the statement added.