*Threatens To Withdraw Certificates Of Graduates Who Falsely Attack Alma Mater
By Sam Tyav, Makurdi
Acting Vice Chancellor (VC), Rev Fr Moses Orshio Adasu University Makurdi (MOAUM), Professor Simon Terver Ubwa, has assured that the Benue State Government and the university management were doing everything possible to meet the remaining demands of the institution’s striking unions.
The unions embarked on strike few days ago following their claims that the university management had not paid staff the new national minimum wage.
Interacting with the Forum of Investigative Journalists in Benue State in his office, Professor Ubwa revealed that some issues affecting the unions were addressed at several meetings, adding that government and the university’s Governing Council had met a “reasonable number” of the Unions’ demands and were willing to address the remaining ones.
According to him, the strike was needless in the circumstances.
“The issues that led to the strike followed series of communications starting from last year (2024). They were more than the implementation of minimum wage. Council directed that issues that could be handled from the IGR be paid, and that was complied with. The issues were more than the implementation of the minimum wage,” he asserted.
The Ag. VC noted that other issues bordered on National Health Insurance scheme, pensions, payment of sundry allowances, promotions, explaining that some were dealt with from the IGR.
Ubwa emphasized that “all these issues were addressed leaving the issue of 35% Wage Award and the implementation of minimum wage.”
He explained that tertiary institutions were not included on the national committee on minimum wage negotiation and were instead given 10% as wage award, a figure, he noted, fell short of expectations.
But to address this, Ubwa stated that state government set up a high-powered committee made up of Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Head of Service and Accountant General to meet with Council and the university management.
According to him, this eventually led to a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the unions.
The Ag. VC pointed out that the Council seeks understanding from the unions for only three weeks to enable it resolve the matter, expressing dismay, however, that the unions rather resorted to strike.
He lamented the allegations levelled against a lecturer in the university, Professor Timothy Ornguga, who was nominated for state Commissionership, saying “our people take pleasure in pulling other persons down. We have Senate body on ethics and their terms of reference borders on some of the things that were raised.”
According to him, the university will initiate the process of withdrawing its certificates from graduates of the institution who make false allegations against staff and the university as a way to checking incessant false attacks.
PHOTO CAPTION: Professor Ubwa.
