By joshua 
FROM IKHILI EBALU, BENIN CITY
Crisis is brewing at the Ambrose Alli University AAU, Ekpoma, in Edo State following the sack of over ninety (90) academic and non-academic staff mostly senior staff.
Investigation revealed that out of the 90 staff sacked, 20 are academic staff while the other 70 staff are non academic.
No reason was however given in one of the disengagement letters sighted by Aljazirah Nigeria on Tuesday.
One of the sack letters sighted reads: “In repositioning the University, the Management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma writes to convey to you the decision of the Special Intervention Team ( S.I.T) of your disengagement from the services of the University with effect from March 10, 2023.
“You will be paid all your entitlements in line with the provision of the Ambrose Alli
University, Ekpoma Staff Regulations and Scheme of Service.
“By a copy of this letter, the Bursary Department is directed to process your entitlements,
subject to your clearance of any indebtedness to the University.
“You are kindly advised to submit all University property(ies) in your possession to your
Head of Department on the receipt of this letter.
“The Management of the University sincerely thank you for your past services and wish
you success in your future endeavour.”
When contacted, one of the affected staff (name withheld) said: “…it is true that I was given a letter of disengagement in the disguise of repositioning the University.
“The truth is, it is because of the last protest embarked on by ASUU, NASU and SSANU saying I was part of it. This is a true example of a Government under the leadership of a tyrant.
“The Government of Edo State under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki who refused to pay us for months is coming now to sack us for protesting for our rights. If it is not for the protest, what is our offense?” The victim asked.
Governor Godwin Obaseki had set up Special Intervention Team to run the affairs of the university, but was resisted by the University’s branch of ASUU, NASU and SSANU, saying, the S.I.T. was aimed at sacking “the hardworking staff of the University.”
In one of its meeting in 2022, Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), faulted Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on the administration of the state-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma without Governing Council, describing the government’s idea as alien to university administration globally