According to Nivo News, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has pledged to resolve the backlog of unpaid salaries, gratuities, and other critical challenges at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, inherited from previous administrations. The governor gave the assurance during a courtesy visit from the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor (Mrs.) Eunice Eboserehimen Omonzejie, and her management team at the Government House in Benin City on Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Governor Okpebholo congratulated the Vice-Chancellor and her team on their appointments, commending their efforts to highlight the institution’s pressing challenges. He described the university as having been “on life support” and expressed admiration for the progress achieved since Professor Omonzejie assumed office. The governor assured that his administration would support initiatives to reposition AAU and restore its former glory.

Addressing the issue of unpaid staff salaries, Governor Okpebholo described years of non-payment as “unfair and unacceptable.” He emphasized that resolving salary arrears, pensions, and gratuities, which run into billions of naira, would be treated as a top-priority project under his administration.

The governor also acknowledged other concerns raised by the university, including deteriorating hostel facilities, accreditation challenges, and infrastructure needs for programmes such as Medical Laboratory Science. He urged the university to include these critical requirements in upcoming budget proposals so that appropriate measures could be implemented.

Professor Omonzejie explained that the timing of the visit was influenced by a recently concluded accreditation exercise and the need to thoroughly assess the university’s state. She described AAU as having been in a “moribund state,” facing infrastructure deficits, unpaid salaries, and accreditation issues, and expressed gratitude for the governor’s interventions since his assumption of office. She highlighted improvements including increased monthly subventions, restoration of staff to the payroll, support for backlog medical students, enhanced security logistics, and facilitation of road construction through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

During the visit, the Vice-Chancellor formally presented the university’s urgent needs, such as outstanding salaries, pensions and gratuities, union deductions, construction of lecture theatres and hostels, and facilities to boost accreditation and expand student intake, particularly in the College of Medicine. The courtesy visit was attended by key government officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilo, the Commissioner for Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, and the Permanent Secretary of the Government House, Mrs Sede.