Obaseki canvasses upward review of 13 per cent derivation

AAU lecturers to begin strike over alleged non-payment of salary, others

Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has canvassed an upward review of the 13 per cent derivation formula and accelerated development of the South-South region.

Obaseki stated this at the commissioning of Effurun-Otor-Ovwor-Olomu bridge and the rehabilitated 34km Otu-Jeremi-Okwagbe Road in Ughelli South Council built by his Delta State counterpart, Ifeanyi Okowa.

He said the peculiarity of the South-South terrain made it more expensive to develop infrastructure, especially roads, adding that with the quality of projects Okowa was executing across Delta State, it was obvious that he would achieve more with enhanced funds.

He pointed out that the bridge and road projects would enhance the economy of the communities and connect them to other parts of the state, saying: “Governor Okowa had moved from ‘road master’ to ‘bridge master’ and a ‘brilliant leader’ who understands the importance of roads and other infrastructure in the economic development of communities.”

Speaking, Okowa said that the Effurun-Otor-Ovwor bridge was one of the major requests of the people when he visited the communities in 2015.

On his part, Commissioner for Works, James Augoye, said that the Effurun-Otor-Ovwor bridge was first awarded in 1979, re-awarded by OMPADEC in 1991, and abandoned and later awarded in March 2017 by the Okowa administration, while the Otu-Jeremi-Okwagbe road was awarded in March 2016 and was completed in 2019.
MEANWHILE, the Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma Chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), yesterday, directed its members to proceed on an indefinite strike over non-payment of salaries and remittance of check-off dues, among others.

In a statement issued in Benin City by its Chairman, Dr. Monday Igbafen, and Secretary, Dr. Azebioje-Coker Anthony, the union directed its members to embark on an indefinite strike on Monday, March 25, 2021.