Oganihu Ebonyi, a movement of patriots pushing for the progress and sustainable development of Ebonyi State has demanded an immediate resolution of the industrial dispute between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ebonyi State University (EBSU) Chapter and the Ebonyi State government.
The group also called on Governor David Nweze Umahi to invest sustainably and efficiently in the education sector to improve quality of teaching and learning at all levels.
In a statement by its Convener, Dr. Laz Ude Eze and the interim Publicity Secretary, Engr. Chinedum Elekwachi, the group said that investing in quality education would develop a large pool of skilled human resource which the state needs most to achieve sustainable development.
“Having read the public statements of ASUU and the state government and talked with key officials on both sides, we wish to state as follows; That there’s an evidence of a progressive decline in the funding of tertiary education in Ebonyi State since 2016. This has led to non-promotion or promotion without proportionate remuneration of teaching and non-teaching staff of EBSU and other state-owned tertiary institutions.
“That we are disappointed with the high handed and undemocratic approach which the State government has deployed in managing the dispute with ASUU.
“We believe that the governor as the visitor of the school the University lacks the power to proscribed any lawful association in the university including the staff unions. Such act is not consistent with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).We are deeply concerned that the lingering disaffection between the EBSU staff and government has paralyzed academic activities in the university with no end in sight. This should be resolved without further delay.
“As always, we applaud the giant strides of Mr Governor in infrastructural development and pray him to transfer same stride to the education sector and give EBSU a sense of pride among comity of universities in the country,” the group posited.
