THE Acting Vice-Chancellor deployed from the University of Benin by Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to superintend over the lingering crises in Ambrose Alli University, (AAU), Ekpoma has instructed members staff and students to resume academic activities with immediate effect.
A letter signed by the Acting VC himself and made available to Trojan.com.ng respondent reads in part:
“AAU, Ekpoma, resumes academic activities, set to clear outstanding emoluments of active staff members
“The Management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, profoundly appreciates academic and non-academic staff as well as other officials of the university who turned up for work on May 24, 2021, in line with management directives.
“Management is glad to announce that all those who resumed and others who are willing to join them will begin to receive their emoluments within the next one week.
“Management is also very appreciative of the understanding, support, and cooperation of the student community and all others within the university community, for how they have conducted themselves in line with the resumption notice.
“We remain committed to restoring harmony and normalcy to the university and we are set to take the institution to greater heights.
“We continue to count on all your support and goodwill as we set on the course of repositioning Ambrose Alli University for excellence.
In a terse press statement signed by the local chapter chairman of ASUU, of AAU, M. L. Igbafen, Ph.D., perforated the Acting VC’s stance on AAU industrial crisis as dehumanizing.
“The attention of the Union has been drawn to the release personally issued by the Acting Vice-Chancellor which amongst other things said that “all those who resumed and others who are willing to join them will begin to receive their emoluments within the next one week.
“The Union views the above-quoted statement insulting, dehumanizing, and a grand plan to enslave the workers of the University.
“The release should therefore be ignored while you remain at home until our demand for the payment of our unpaid check-off dues and other sundry deductions from our salaries, is met.
“The strike action is still fully on course. United we bargain, divided we beg. A people united can never be divided.
“Dare to Struggle, Dare to win”, Dr. Igbafen.
A tour at the campus this morning in and around the vicinity of the institution revealed that the staff of the University and students effectively obeyed the seat-home-order issued by the ASUU.
A member of staff of the non-academic union of the University which has been on strike since October last year has this to say about the ongoing strike:
“This is the deserted campus of AAU Ekpoma as of today Tuesday 25th May 2021, devoid of administrative and academic activities.
“The so-called resumption of academic activities in the University, as claimed by the Acting University Administration, is not only a hoax but also a ploy to deceive, mislead and misinform the students and the public.
“The strike of ASUU is therefore biting hard on the institution.
“Government should do the needful by paying the unpaid salaries of workers of the University to restore normalcy”, Mr. Solomon Aimiebinomon said.
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