Edo state government has promised to offset the 10 months salary arrears owed staff of the State owned Polytechnic, Usen in Ovia South-West local government area of the state.
The state governor, Godwin Obaseki also called on religious leaders in the state to collaborate with his administration with the aim to strengthen the state’s educational system
Obaseki made the appeal while playing host to the new executives of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Edo State Chapter, led by its Chairman, Oyonnude Kure, at Edo State Government House in Benin City.
The governor during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) of the state-owned Polytechnic assured of prompt payment of salary to staff of the institution.
He also disclosed that his administration would set up a committee involving organised labour and the government to identify the cause of the problems faced by the institution and find ways to solve them.
“We will have an agreement with you on the structure and modalities the school will be operating with, and also take a critical look at the masterplan of the school to get the commitment of both the students and staff of the institution and ensure the progress of the School.
“Any Council that cannot meet the obligation of payment of staff salaries will be removed and replaced. I want to assure you that your issue will be resolved this month, after which I will hold you responsible for any problems that surface in the institution again”, he said.
The ASUP chairman of the institution, Edobor Sunday enumerated some challenges confronting the school to include non- promotion of staff; non-payment of workers’ salaries spanning 10 months; increase of subvention to the school to help accredit some of her courses.
He also listed not obeying the 65 years retirement age for staff; non- payment of promotion arrears, and the appointment of a substantive rector for the Institution amongst others as part of the challenges.
He however appreciated the governor for his efforts in revamping technical education in the state with his visit to Benin Technical College and the ongoing SEEFOR Projects in the school, especially the renovation of computer classroom block in the Institution.
Governor Obaseki who also played host to the Alumni Association of the Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma urged the members to contribute their quotas to the revival and restoration of the institution’s past glory
The governor who lamented the declining educational standard of the Ivory tower noted that the state government would not relent on its effort to improve the standard of the school.
He however assured that the State government, in its quest to ensure quality education in the institution, allocates N200 million on a monthly basis as subvention.
