Edo Government said it did not owe staff of the state-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma, as some members of factionalised Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) were still on strike.

In a statement on Monday, the Edo Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Christopher Nehikhare, boasted that all arrears and entitlements of the institution’s staff had been cleared.

“As of August 2022, salaries of lecturers have been paid up to date in AAU. This is a huge achievement for a school owing so much in salaries,” he said.

Mr Nehikhare said the institution, with over 33,000 students, had been in session and was not affected by the ongoing strike by ASUU.

He said the institution was in debt as of last year, with the education quality becoming questionable.

“Since December 2021, only gross salaries have been paid as there have been no deductions; all their entitlements have been paid,” he said.

According to him, the university has provided jobs for the people of the locality, and other locals have been employed within the vicinity and have also been paid.

“The Edo state government takes education seriously and is working assiduously to turn the entire education system around.

“The Edo people should commend what the governor is doing in terms of education in Edo State,” the commissioner said.

While a good number of academic staff have since returned to their duty posts since the state government suspended ASUU activities in the institution, some ASUU members are still on strike.

They are demanding, among others, increased government funding of the institution.

They are also aggrieved by management’s inability to meet its obligation of payment of staff emoluments, out at N4 trillion, which necessitated its resort to irregular and selective payment of salaries.

(NAN)