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From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma Chapter has called for immediate halt to the activities of the Special Intervention Team (SIT) in the University, describing its continuous operation in the University as the height of illegality.
“The tenure of SIT in the University has since elapsed or expired, hence it should not be seen or heard to be holding any meeting. Doing otherwise is the height of impunity and illegality”, ASUU insists.
The Union’s call followed a scheduled meeting by SIT for the University Management and members of SIT today, Monday, March 25, 2024, in Benin City. The Secretary to SIT, Dr. Idemudia Oaihimire had said in a notice of the meeting that “the Chairman of the SIT is inviting you and the Management Team to meet with the SIT in Government House on Monday, 25th March 2024 by 10:00 am prompt for a council meeting.”
This Union expressed grave concern over the far-reaching legal consequences of the continued stay by the University’s SIT whose tenure expired in November 2022.
The Union said that while SIT is deceiving the public and the State House of Assembly by claiming and pretending that it is no longer on the ground at the University, it is surreptitiously meeting, making illegal decisions, issuing illegal directives and collecting illegal sitting allowances. SIT should respect the law.
“All decisions and directives anchored on SIT’s orders or directives in the University since November 2022 are open to legal disputations”, the Union said in a terse press statement made available to journalists in Benin City, Edo State, yesterday.
In the statement signed by Dr. Cyril Onogbosele and Dr. William Odion, Chairperson and Assistant Secretary of the University’s Chapter of ASUU respectively, the Union reiterated its concern about the legal implications of the continued operation of SIT in the institution particularly in its day-to-day financial and administrative policies/directives on the disciplinary processes of staff and students, and the management of the University’s properties.
Specifically, the Union questioned and condemned the continuous meetings, including those of today by SIT considering the expiration of its tenure and urged the State Government to save the University from public ridicule and total collapse as a matter of urgency.
“The continuing collection of sitting allowance during both physical and Zoom meetings is not only illegal but criminal and uncharitable”, the statement said.
According to the Union, “the people of Edo State deserve a stable state University. ” By virtue of Part II, Section 5 of the Special Intervention Law, the period for the operation of SIT “shall not be more than one calendar year, in the first instance, subject to extension for another period of six months only”. Without prejudice to the case between the Union and the Edo State Government in the law court over the legality of the aforesaid law, the SIT has served out the one-calendar-year term and the extension of 6 months since November 2022. This implies that the continuing operation and activities of SIT in the University after the expiration of the period allowed by even the contentious law amounts to illegality and lawlessness.
