Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reaffirmed his administration’s determination to confront longstanding salary arrears, unpaid gratuities and other pressing challenges facing Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, describing the situation he inherited as unacceptable and unjust to workers.
The Governor gave the assurance while receiving the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor (Mrs.) Eunice Eboserehimen Omonzejie, and her management team on a courtesy visit at the Government House, Benin City.
Congratulating the Vice-Chancellor and her team on their appointments, Governor Okpebholo said the issues presented during the meeting painted a clear picture of an institution that had been severely neglected for years. He commended the management for the progress made so far despite daunting odds, noting that their efforts showed commitment to restoring the university.
“From what you have outlined today, it is clear that Ambrose Alli University was on life support,” the Governor said. “I must commend the progress you have recorded since assuming office. I am impressed by your efforts, and I want to assure you that this administration will support the university in every way possible to reposition it and restore its lost glory.”
Addressing the long-standing problem of unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities, Governor Okpebholo described the situation as deeply unfair to staff who had continued to work without pay for several years. He pledged to personally take up the matter as a priority of his administration.
“It is not right for people to work and not be paid,” he said. “The issue of unpaid salaries, pensions and gratuities running into billions of naira is something I will take as a project. These are challenges inherited from the past, and we will address them.”
The Governor also acknowledged other concerns raised by the university management, including hostel shortages, infrastructure decay, accreditation challenges and the need for improved facilities for programmes such as Medical Laboratory Science. While noting that the current budget cycle was already far advanced, he encouraged the university to properly articulate its critical needs in subsequent budget proposals to enable government intervention.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor explained that the visit was delayed due to a recently concluded accreditation exercise and the need to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the institution’s condition. She described the university she inherited as moribund, plagued by infrastructural decay, unpaid salaries and accreditation challenges.
Professor Omonzejie expressed deep gratitude to Governor Okpebholo for what she termed “life-saving interventions” since his assumption of office. She said the approval of increased monthly subvention, restoration of affected staff to the payroll, support for graduating backlog medical students, improved security logistics and the facilitation of road construction through the NDDC had brought renewed hope to the university community.
She also formally presented the institution’s most urgent needs, including accumulated salary arrears, pensions, gratuities, union deductions and the construction of lecture theatres and hostels to strengthen accreditation and expand student intake, particularly in the College of Medicine.
The meeting was attended by top government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilo, Esq.; the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu; and the Permanent Secretary, Government House, Mrs. Sede, among others.
