Strike: AAU workers spit fire over stoppage of workers’ salaries

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro

About workers and stakeholders in Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Edo State have lamented the alleged stoppage of salaries on order of the University’s Special Intervention Team (SIT), that took over the responsibilities of the University’s Governing Board few years ago.

This followed the insistence by affiliate unions under the aegis of Joint Action Committee (JAC) in AAU, not to comply with an earlier directive by the Management of the institution to students to resume academic activities on Monday May 30, 2022, until all outstanding salaries, check-off dues including the implementation  of the new national minimum wage and sundry deductions are paid to the workers before resumption.

The workers wondered why SIT should arrived at the arbitrary order without any form of specific reason, explanation, query or existing disciplinary action against the affected staff, according to investigation.

But the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Sunny Adagbonyin alluded to alleged infractions in the University’s payroll system, which he said “include and not limited to salary differentials and double payments (salary and pension).

Recall that the University’s ASUU had also early this year called on the Visitor to the University and Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to sack the University’s SIT and constitute a normal Governing Council for the University for the genuine repositioning of the state-owed University.

Unconfirmed report said a joint security team has been drafted to the University Campus to enforce the management’s order.

Recall that the University’s ASUU had also early this year called on the Visitor to the University and Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki to sack the University’s SIT and constitute a normal Governing Council for the University for the genuine repositioning of the state-owed University.