By Kenneth Onuoha
365Daily – The Ebonyi State Government has constituted a 21-man committee to look into the lingering misunderstanding between the management of Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, and the Trade Unions in the institution.
The panel, according to government, is aimed at putting a permanent end to the impasse.
The State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Barr Uchenna Orji, disclosed this in a statement made available to Journalists at the end of the Stakeholders meeting convened by Governor David Umahi on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.
The stakeholders meeting, which was held at the State Executive Council Chambers, Old Government House, Abakaliki, witnessed the presence of leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), State Founding Fathers and Elders Council including the immediate past Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi.
Others are representatives of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, Non- Academic Staff Union of Universities, National Association of Academic Technologists and Students Union Government of EBSU.
The Committee, Orji said, was drawn from different organisations and stakeholders of the University community, and was charged to work as a visitation panel to the University and to get details of the school fees, subventions, allowances and sources of revenue of other Universities of similar status and submit findings and recommendations within one month.
The statement reads: “Following the lingering problems between the management of Ebonyi State University and the Trade Unions, the Governor of Ebonyi State and University Visitor, David Umahi, convened a meeting of stakeholders made up of government functionaries, leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria, State Founding Fathers and Elders Council, representatives of Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, Non- Academic Staff Union of Universities, National Association of Academic Technologists, Students Union Government of EBSU, held this 9th day of June 2021 at the State Exco Chambers, Old Government House, Abakaliki.
“Government considered the agitations of the Trade Unions and the needs of the University Community and resolved to set up a 21- man committee to be drawn from different organisations and stakeholders of the university community to look into the problems of the university.
“The committee is charged to work as a Visitation Panel to the University and to get details of the school fees, subventions, allowances and sources of revenue of other Universities of similar status and submit findings and recommendations within one month. The Committee is to be inaugurated on Friday, 11th June 2021.
“Government reiterated its commitment to the security and welfare of the students of the University and indeed all the academic institutions in the State and resolved to fund the internal security arrangement of the students of Ebonyi State University.
“Government donated a brand new 33- seater Coaster Toyota bus to the Students Union Government of EBSU to enhance the operations of the leadership of the Students Union.”