Edo govt not owing state varsity staff, boasts commissioner

Edo State Government has said it is not owing staff of the state-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), noting that all arrears and entitlements have been cleared.

The state Commissioner for Communications and Orientation, Christopher Nehikhare, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

A statement by the media aide to the state governor, Crusoe Osagie, quoted Nehikhare as saying that the institution, with over 33,000 students, has been in session and is not affected by the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

He said: “The Edo State Government set up an intervention team over a year ago to look into the management of the institution and to turn the institution around. The school was in debt, lecturers were not being paid and the students were not getting value for money paid. The quality of education was questionable.

“As at August 2022, salaries of lecturers have been paid up to date in AAU. This is a huge achievement for a school owing so much in salaries.”

Since December 2021, only gross salaries have been paid as there have been no deductions. All their entitlement have been paid.

“The university has provided jobs for the people of the locality and other locals have been employed within the vicinity and they have been paid also.”