By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Edo State government has denied owing lecturers of the defunct state owned College of Education Ekiadolor who have been protesting in the last couple of days in Benin City.
The state Publicity Secretary of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chris Osa Nehikhare, said the lecturers were only whipping up sentiments to cover for their act of insubordination in carrying out lawful directives.
Nehikhare in a statement in Benin City claimed that the lecturers, who were former employees of the defunct College of Education, Ekiadolor were asked to resume at Abudu after the closure of the institution. He said they disobeyed the directive, hence the reason they have not been paid.
“We consider these protestS very serious especially as the allegations of non payment of salary was adduced as the reason for the protest for a government that is not owing any sector salaries including pension arrears.
“You will recall that the last APC administration led by Mr. Adams Oshiomhole established two new state universities same day. Tayo Akpata University of Education and Edo University of Science and Technology, Uzaiure, now known and referred to as Edo University Iyamho.
“Adams Oshiomhole had no intention of fulfilling the establishment of Tayo Akpata University of Education while violating all budgetary, financial and accounting rules and regulations to complete his Iyamho project! It was obvious Adams Oshiomhole ‘sold a dummy’ to Edo South people and leaders.
“We wondered how a new University was built from scratch, got accreditation and started admitting students even as Tayo Akpata University of Education with existing infrastructure did not have even a toilet added to the existing structures talk less of admitting students in the Adams Oshiomhole administration.
“The newly ‘established’ Tayo Akpata University of Education was eventually shut down, as the move to convert the old College of Education into a University of Education became impossible due to budget constraints, as the state is already blessed with two state-owned universities and seven private universities, it would be imprudent to establish another state-owned university.
“The federal government was approached on the need to have a Federal College of Education in Edo State and it was granted. The plan is that by September this year, the school should commence operation.
“Since the staff are workers of the state government, they were redeployed to the state College of Education with three campuses. They disobeyed the directive even after refusing to be absorbed into the state civil service.
“It would have been abnormal, irresponsible and financially reckless for the state government to pay workers that have been recalcitrant and disobeying lawful directives when their actions and decisions suggest they are no longer interested in working for the state government.
“The affected staff are urged to comply with the directive of the state government and stop embarrassing themselves in the guise of protesting,” he said.
