Disband SIT, constitute AAU governing council, ASUU tells Obaseki

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU) chapter, Ekpoma, Edo State, yesterday, appealed to Governor Godwin Obaseki to disband the Special Intervention Team (SIT) in the institution, saying that allowances for SIT members have taken a toll on the financial resources of the university.

The academic staff also implored the visitor to the university, Obaseki, to constitute a governing council for the institution to enable it function properly.

Addressing journalists in Benin City, Chairman, ASUU, AAU, Dr. Oziegbe Onogbosele, who identified poor funding as the major cause of the crisis in university, said: “Since inception, SIT has not been able to achieve the mandate given to it by the state government, which is to source for funds for the university.

“Rather, its activities, including unnecessary frequent meetings to collect allowances, have taken a toll on the financial resources of the university.

“Since the governor gave 90 days ultimatum (with effect from March 16, 2023) for the dissolution of SIT and its replacement with a governing council when an elaborate stakeholders’ meeting on the crisis in the University was held, SIT has been incensed to frustrate and nullify the governor’s decision to dissolve the team.’’

“This is primarily responsible for the gale of false information in the reports on the university and its staff, being propagated by SIT.”