AAU VC tenure amended as labour suspends strike

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has assented to a bill pass by the State House of Assembly amending the Tenure of the Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma from a 4 year renewable tenure to a single non renewable 5 years tenure.
The Governor while assenting to the bill yesterday in Government House said the need to conform to best practices as obtained in other National universities as well as ensures peace and development in the university made it necessary for the Ambrose Alli University Vice Chancellor Tenure to be amended.
Governor Oshiomhole said, “We have decided to amend the session in regards to the tenure of the Vice Chancellor in order to bring in conformity with the general practice around the country. It is now a public secret that the tenure of Vice Chancellors in Federal Universities has now been adjusted to 5 years single tenure that is non-renewable.
“The tenure of Vice Chancellor under the AAU Act has been a tenure of 4 years renewable once which means the VC can sometimes spend up to 8 years as Vice Chancellor. We have decided to amend this session of the Act so that we bring it to conformity with the practice elsewhere because we think it make a lot of sense.
“It is now an open secret that the competition for Vice Chancellorship has assumed a dimension that can be quite dysfunctional to the peace and harmony and even the academic environment of the university. I am therefore convinced that the idea of limiting the tenure to one term of 5 years is helpful”.
Governor Oshiomhole also expressed his satisfaction with the administration of the present Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Cordelia Agbebaku which he acknowledged has brought lot of development to the University through astute management of resources as well as stabilizing the university and ensuring peace.
Governor Oshiomhole said, “I also want to use this opportunity to state that Edo State Government based on the reports that we are receiving and we have continued to receive from the Council of the Ambrose Alli University and our own general overview of the going on at the university, I am convinced that the Vice Chancellor is doing a fantastic job under a very difficult environment.
“There are financial gaps, it is a fact known to all, that the university does not have all the resources it needs is also clear but I am satisfied that every little resources that we have made available to the university for capital project have been judiciously used and the university has begin to witness additional investment in infrastructure under this present management of Professor Agbebaku”.
The Governor reaffirm, “The tenure of the present VC by this amendment automatically would be 5 years and I hope this would lay to rest those who are agitating, who are arguing that the tenure of the Vice Chancellor has expired. It has not, not only because we have amended this law but also that the last Vice Chancellor who was there spent a period of 5 years though the law hasn’t been amended.
“Once you start a tradition, particularly a tradition that works, it is better to stick to the tradition. I think the tradition worked and that is why we have formally amended the law to incorporate this tradition into the law and therefore the present Vice Chancellor will enjoy the privilege and carry the burden of 5 years, one single term that is not renewable. I believe this will lay to rest all the speculations, agitations and unnecessary distractions that is already going on in the university.
Reassuring the University of his administrations continuous support, Governor Oshiomhole said, “Edo State Government will continue to encourage the Council, the Vice Chancellor and the Management Staff of Ambrose Alli University to continue to see how we can grow the quality, the environment for learning and teaching and I also want to appreciate the patience of the Academic Staff and the Non Academic Staff of the university. All of them have exhibited in one way or the other, without which we wouldn’t have enjoy the peace that continue to prevail in AAU.
“If you will remember that that institution was once closed down for a period of almost 6 months to 1 year as a result of internal crisis then you can appreciate how much the Vice Chancellor has done to make Ambrose Alli University a peaceful university community”, he stressed.
Governor Oshiomhole also appreciated the leadership and members of the Edo State House of Assembly for their continuous support and operations without which the amendment wouldn’t have been possible.
He said, “Let me thank you Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Assembly for your support and cooperation without which this amendment to the Ambrose Alli University Act of 1991 as regard the tenure of the Vice Chancellor would have taken far more time than this bearing in mind that this is almost the end of this Legislative session. I know that there are a lot of activities here and there, many of your colleagues are busy and yet you have find time to continue to attend to issues of state. I am very appreciative and I believe our people your services to the state.
“So I want to thank you Mr. Speaker and Members of the House for assisting us to amend this law which I now have the pleasure to assent to and on this amendment, the issue of the tenure of the Vice Chancellor of AAU is now laid to rest”, Oshiomhole said.
Meanwhile Governor Oshiomhole had a closed door meeting with the executives of Nigerian Labor Congress, Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiating Council on possible resolution to the proposed 3 days warning strike earlier scheduled to take effect from Monday the 25th of May 2015.
Speaking after the closed door meeting, the Chairman, Joint Negotiating Council, Mr. Shaka Otoide said, “In view of the notice we gave to Edo State Government to embarked on a 3 days warning strike with effect from Monday, 25th of May 2015, the meeting between the Edo State Government and the Joint Negotiating Council including the Nigerian Labor Congress, Trade Union Congress, the strike action has been suspended.
“The circular from the office of the Head of Service that the commencement of the Pension Scheme with effect from May has also been withdrawn. The 8% that was deducted from the salary of the workers will be pay back to workers salary.