From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, has called for a neutral, competent and experienced Governing Council for the state-owned AAU, Ekpoma.
It also cautioned that a governing council that is not neutral, competent and experienced in university administration may exacerbate the crises presently facing the University.
“As a result, no member of the present controversial, expired and discredited Special Intervention Team (SIT) of the University should make membership of the Governing Council expected to be constituted for the University by the Visitor”, the Union stated.
“It would amount to robbing the proposed new Governing Council of neutrality if any member of the SIT is included in the new Governing Council”, the Union said.
Further, the Union disclosed, “The present University Management led by the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Asomwan Sonnie Adagbonyin who has acted for more than two years (Since February 2022) in clear violation of the University’s law, rules and regulations should also give way to a new crop of principal officers.
“This will strengthen the credibility, neutrality and fairness required of both the University Management and Governing Council by staff, students and other stakeholders of the University”
This was contained in a statement signed by Dr. Cyril Onogbosele and Dr. Willam Odion, the Chairman and Assistant Secretary of ASUU, AAU, Ekpoma Chapter respectively and made available to Journalists in Benin City.
The Union’s statement is informed by the recent titbits about expected announcement of a governing council for the University by Edo State Government.
The Union advised the State Government to be guided by the University’s Law and the relevant rules and regulations on membership of Governing Council, especially in relation to academic qualification and relevant experience.
Specifically, the Union maintained that the minimum academic qualification for membership of a university Governing Council is a university bachelor’s degree and vast knowledge of university governance and administration, particularly for a chairman of a governing council.
The Union called for independence of the proposed Governing Council and cautioned that undue government interference would make rubbish of the relevance of Governing Council and fester the present crises facing the University.
The Union also insisted that in order to restore lasting industrial peace and harmony to the University, all outstanding salaries of staff should be paid while cases of staff victimisation, repression and undue termination of appointments with the University should be dispassionately addressed and resolved.
Also, the Union stated that the problem of funding is undisputably central to the crises facing the University and urged Edo State Government to as a matter of urgency restore adequate monthly subvention to the University for recurrent expenditure and release the budgetary capital allocation of the University.