The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) University of Benin (UNIBEN) Branch on Sunday withdrew its services from the postgraduate programme of the University to press home its demand for payment of outstanding entitlements for postgraduate teaching and postgraduate supervision.
It was gathered that the service withdrawal was not
unconnected with indebtedness on the part of the University management
throughout the tenure of the current University Administration, which winds up
in December 2024.
The ASUU (UNIBEN) Branch had earlier at a Congress on
Friday, 14 June 2024, resolved that all members of ASUU in UNIBEN withdraw
their involvement/participation in the postgraduate programme of the University
of Benin with immediate effect.
The UNIBEN ASUU Congress had met on Friday, 14 June 2024,
and resolved that all its members withdraw their involvement/participation in
the postgraduate programme of the University of Benin with immediate effect.
“Arising from the above, all members of ASUU UNIBEN have
been directed to immediately cease to engage/participate/be involved in
postgraduate teaching, postgraduate supervision, postgraduate seminars,
postgraduate examinations, and postgraduate board meetings until all the
already earned honoraria for postgraduate teaching, postgraduate supervision
and postgraduate internal examination owed within the tenure of the current
University Administration are fully paid.
“A clearly defined structure for the administration and
remuneration of academic staff in the postgraduate programme is negotiated and
agreed between the Administration of the University of Benin and ASUU UNIBEN.”
The lecturers vowed to sustain the strike action on all
postgraduate programs of the University to press home their demand for payment
of all outstanding entitlements.
A anonymous source who said that they have the backing of
the national leadership of the Union, further disclosed that the demands cover
all postgraduate teaching and supervision done throughout the tenure of the
current Vice-Chancellor, Prof Lilian Salami.
He said the decision is to forestall another incidence of
the interruption of the postgraduate program that may arise from the
accumulation of unpaid entitlements to members in the near or distant future.
According to him, “If we do not stand up for ourselves,
especially in this very harsh and excruciating socio-economic climate, no one
will. The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
The Public Relations Officer of UNIBEN, Dr. Benedicta
Ehanire, could not be reached as calls made to her cell phone failed to
connect.
But, a source close to the University’s Vice-Chancellor said
efforts were on to resolve all outstanding entitlements of the ASUU members
involved in the post program of the institution.