AAU ASUU, management bicker over salaries

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma branch have continued to lament the removal of Prof. Benson Osadolor, one year after he was removed as Acting vice chancellor of the state owned institution.

Osadolor served between May 11, 2021 and February 2022, before he was removed by governor Godwin Obaseki.

In a joint statement by the local ASUU chairman, Dr. Cyril Onogbosele and secretary, Dr. William Odion, which was made available to journalists in Benin, the duo accused the incumbent vice chancellor of setting out to ruin the institution through his actions.

Apparently unsatisfied with Osadolor’s removal, the union leaders explained that during his stint as vice chancellor, he attempted to solve some of the problems confronting the institution by adopting a civilised principle of industrial relations.

They recalled that the erstwhile vice chancellor employed dialogue with the various staff unions in the university to broker peace and restore industrial harmony.

Osadolor’s action, according to the union leaders, led to a Memorandum of Action (MoA), which the school reached with the union on May 31, 2021 over payment of outstanding salaries.

They noted that the former acting vice chancellor stood for due process, having shown unconditional respect for the law and regulations of the university.

They said: “The reality in the university at the time supports the fact that if Osadolor was allowed to stay and supported with necessary funds to run the institution, he would have stabilised things and restored industrial harmony in the university.”

They, however, expressed concern over the state of things in the institution, saying the management appeared to have forgotten the agreement reached with ASUU on payment of outstanding salaries.

A proviso in the MoA allowed ASUU to embark on strike in the event of a breach by the university.