The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, yesterday dismissed the Special Intervention Team (SIT) interim and progress report on the institution submitted to Governor Godwin Obaseki as not only false but self-serving.
The academic union of the state owned institution at a press conference held at the ASUU hall of the University of Benin said the SIT report presented to the state governor was full of propaganda and therefore called for proper investigation to determine the true state of the crisis in the university.
Recall that the Special Intervention Team led by Austin Osakue, in its report had accused the management of AAU of alleged academic fraud, tax evasion by staff, certificate and academic transcript racketeering, deduction for health insurance Scheme (EDOHIS), among others.
But addressing a press conference, Dr Cyril Onogbosele, chairman ASUU, AAU, Ekpoma flanked by the assistance secretary, Dr William Odion, however appealed that the selective payment of salaries of staff in the university should be resolved with payment of all outstanding salaries to staff of the university.
Onogbosele said: “For self-serving reasons, a particular member of the SIT who is the de facto chairman of the team is preoccupied with and committed to blackmailing the academic staff of the university and demarketing the university in order to consign the image of the university to the hall of shame.
“This has serious implications for the academic integrity and credibility of the university in local, national and global competitiveness and is unacceptable to ASUU and stakeholders of goodwill for the university.
“Consequently, we insist on thorough, transparent and just investigation of the claim of academic fraud in the university widely believed to be in the realm of propaganda and blackmail.
“We urge the visitor to the university, the governor of Edo State to direct a full investigation into the allegation of academic fraud which is an ‘indictment’ of all relevant organs and authorities of the University and not just the lecturers”.
