The management of Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma, has denied owing any staff of the institution 26 months salaries.
According to reports, institution’s denial is in reaction to the allegations by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU of the Institution that the management owed its members monthly salaries for 26 months.
Recall that ASUU had alleged during a press conference in Benin City, that the non-payment of 26 months of staff salaries and other anti-worker policies contributed to the death of over 25 of its members.
Reacting to the allegations and other issues, the management said, it was not owing any staff salaries as all salaries had since been paid to date.
The Head of Communication and Protocol of the University, Otunba Mike Aladenika, in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Benin City, also insisted that nobody died as a result of the non-payment of salaries.
According to him, nobody died as a result of the non-payment of salaries. If they insist they should provide the names of the dead staff.
“To hear that the university is owing ASUU members up to 26 months salary is untrue. One is forced to ask who this particular set of people allegedly being owed salaries are and why their names are not being mentioned. Are there reasons why their identities are being kept?
“As I speak with you now, the February 2024 salaries of AAU staff have been paid. Staff and pensioners of the University received their salaries on the 26th of February. You may wish to go and verify. The Chairman of ASUU, AAUE, who was the leader of the press conference picked up his February 2024 salaries before he came to the press briefing.
“Also ask the ASUU chairman if he and his other academic staff members were not paid their December salaries by the University on December 22nd (before Christmas) 2023 and November 2023 salaries on November 28th, 2023”, he asked.
Aladenika noted that what ASUU called unpaid salaries, were the eight months’ salaries owed them during a strike and the no-work-no-pay order was in force.
The school’s image maker, however, assured staff, students and all stakeholders of the university that the management is working hard to take the institution to greater heights.
Aladenika who opined that the university remains competitive and on the path of progress added that all hands are on the plough and not looking back.
He disclosed that most of the issues raised by the leadership of ASSU are already in court, adding that some things need to be addressed to set the records straight in the interest of the University, students, law-abiding members of staff, parents, guardians and members of the public.