AAU staff continue protest, dump coffin at the school entrance

On Wednesday, administrative and academic staff at Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, Edo State, continued to demonstrate inside the institution to air their complaints on the non-payment of their wages.

The protest had started on February 20, 2023 Monday.

Also, the staff members claimed that Prof. Sonnie Adagbonyin, the university’s acting vice chancellor, had mismanaged the institution and victimized them.

The protest, however, changed course when faculty and staff members threw a coffin at the university’s main entrance on the Benin-Auchi Road with various messages written on it, including “Odiase, Adagbonyin, Osakue Must Go,” “SIT Stop Deceiving Edo Government and People,” and “Enough of Impunity, Intimidation, and Arbitrary Policies Decisions in AAU, Ekpoma “The campaigns “Save Workers Cooperative Societies Restore Check Offs” and “End Slave Labor in AAU Ekpoma”

The staff criticized Mr. Austin Osakue, a member of the Special Intervention Team, Prof. Sonnie Adagbonyin, the acting registrar, Mr. Ambrose Odiase, and the vice chancellor for asserting that the university was running smoothly.

They also accused the vice chancellor with paying salaries in a discriminatory manner.

Prof. Eunice Omozejele, speaking on behalf of other university employees, expressed regret at the deaths of several staff members who couldn’t afford to pay their medical costs and passed away.

She questioned the Head of the SIT’s academic background since she believed he was being dishonest about paying the salaries of all the personnel.

But she pleaded with the group to carry out its duties with integrity and sincerity.