Posted by By Osaro Okhomina on
AUTHORITIES of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) yesterday described as ‘baseless' and ‘an attempt to incite violence' the 21-day ultimatum issued it by the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over their refusal to pay their outstanding salary and allowances.
BENIN CITY - AUTHORITIES of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) yesterday described as ‘baseless' and ‘an attempt to incite violence' the 21-day ultimatum issued it by the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over their refusal to pay their outstanding salary and allowances.
The Union also accused the school's authorities of alleged complicity in the death of four lecturers of the institution due to bad condition of service, saying they will not be intimidated.
According to the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Emmanuel Obaseki-Oboh, although the institution has engaged the ASUU leadership in dialogue over the issue of trade disputes on the issues of execess work load, nominal promotion, outstanding two months salaries and strigent promotion creteria, the issue of threats by the Union should be abandoned and the tactics of dialogue should be embraced for the growth of the institution.
The Acting Vice-Chancellor who made the institution's management's position known to newsmen yesterday in Benin City, said the institution has deliberated on the contentious issues and had taken a decision to be negotiated with the Union at their next meeting.
According to him, "in fact, after the receipt of ASUU's Congress resolution in reaction to decisions reached by the University Council, management immediately called a meeting of all Internal Council Members and the Unions on campus to dialogue on these contentious issues.
"It was agreed that all parties concerned should continue to show committment to the use of dialogue. The Vice Chancellor made it clear at the meeting that management had deliberated on the issues and had in fact taken a position on some decisions that will be negotiated with the Unions. It is therefore suprising and negation of the spirit of conviviliaty exhibited at the meeting that even before another meeting was called to trash out the issues, ASUU broke ranks and externalised the issue.
"The purpose was to heat up the system and create panic among our students, their parents and other stakeholders.
"The present administration at inception met a work load bill of over N122 milion per year paid to all academic staff irrespective of whether or not they teach above their normal required workload.
"Even Graduate Assistants who normally should be trainees also enjoy this allowances. The payment is against the spirit of the agreement reached between the Federal Government and ASUU. By this agreement, excess workload is not supposed to be paid across board only those who teach in excess of their nominal teaching hours are entitled to this allowance."