AAU EKPOMA's Governing Council Concludes 233rd Regular Meeting, Sets Up Committees To Address Sundry Issues

By Esosa Omorogbe

Rising from its 233rd Regular Meeting held from the 9th through to the 11th of October 2024, the Governing Council, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma has directed the constitution of various committees to address issues bordering on infrastructural growth and development of the institution.

The Governing Council meeting which was presided over by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen frowned at the level of infrastructural decay of structures in the University as well as expressed dissatisfaction with the usage of donated facilities and inadequate appreciations shown to the donors by the University Management.

The Council in session also observed that most donated facilities remain unused and unmaintained thus directing the constitution of a 4man Needs Assessment committee headed by Prof R.E. Ohenhen with a mandate to assess the infrastructural needs of the University, advise University Management on prioritising critical infrastructural needs before accepting project donations, among other things.

Another committee, the Alumni Relations Committee, to be headed by the Chairman of Council, Dr Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen, was approved by the Council to be constituted. This Seven man committee has among other mandates to express appreciation, through personalised letters, to University alumni, particularly those who have previously assisted the institution. To facilitate relationships with the Alumni, Private and Public donors to the University. To reconcile and restore confidence among aggrieved Alumni donors and encourage continued support.

Similarly, the Governing Council expressed concern over the documentation, custody and retrieval of University's properties documents, specifically those held by Dr. Idemudia Oahimire, who was the former secretary of the Special Intervention Team (SIT-AAU). Consequently, a committee to investigate the status and documentation of the University’s properties in Abuja and G.R.A Benin-City was approved by the Governing Council.

The four man committee to be headed by Clifford Imade Omozeghian Esq has the mandate to, among other things, retrieve documents related to the University's properties in Abuja, obtain the C-of-O for the Land, and also retrieve the necessary documents related to the University's properties at Boundary Road, GRA Benin.

Meanwhile, the issue of salary discrepancies in the salary structure for AAU-ICT staff came under focus at the meeting. The Council in session frowned at the discrepancies and then constituted a 5man committee headed by Prof Omi Ujuanbi to review the salary structure.

The committee will investigate and identify causes of discrepancies in the salary structure, to harmonise and standardise same.

In a related development the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, Dr.Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen had expressed the commitment of the Council and Management to rejig the workings of the University's security services.

Dr.Omo-Ehijele Frank Odafen stated this while meeting with members of staff from the security department who were hitherto transfered to other departments for works than their original security jobs.

The Pro-Chancellor informed them that the University intends to create a career progression that would allow security personnel to actualize a fulfilled career in their department.

The Council also adopted the just concluded promotion exercise where more than 90% of staff of the University were promoted. Similarly, the Council considered and approved a reduction in the school fees for post graduate studies as well as that of the hostel accommodation with an attendant plan to renovate all the delabidated hostels.