Information reaching INFO DAILY says the management of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, has sacked over ninety (90) staff (mostly senior staff).

INFO DAILY gathered that out of the 90 staff sacked, 20 are academic staff while the other 70 staff are non academic.

No substantive reason was given in one of the disengagement letters sighted by INFO DAILY.

One of the sack letters sighted reads: “In repositioning the University, the Management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma writes to convey to you the decision of the Special Intervention Team ( S.I.T) of your disengagement from the services of the University with effect from March 10, 2023.

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“You will be paid all your entitlements in line with the provision of the Ambrose Alli
University, Ekpoma Staff Regulations and Scheme of Service.

“By a copy of this letter, the Bursary Department is directed to process your entitlements,
subject to your clearance of any indebtedness to the University.

“You are kindly advised to submit all University property(ies) in your possession to your
Head of Department on the receipt of this letter.

“The Management of the University sincerely thank you for your past services and wish
you success in your future endeavour.”

When contacted, one of the affected staff (name withheld) said: “…it is true that I was given a letter of disengagement in the disguise of repositioning the University.

“The truth is, it is because of the last protest embarked on by ASUU, NASU and SSANU saying I was part of it. This is a true example of a Government under the leadership of a tyrant.

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“The Government of Edo State under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki who refused to pay us for months is coming now to sack us for protesting for our rights. If it is not for the protest, what is our offense?” The victim asked.

Recall that the 11-man Edo State House of Assembly under the leadership of the Speaker, Marcus Onobun in 2021 approved Governor Godwin Obaseki’s request to set up Special Intervention Team, but was resisted by the University’s branch of ASUU, NASU and SSANU, saying, the S.I.T. was aimed at sacking “the hardworking staff of the University.”

In one of one of its meeting in 2022, Benin Zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), faulted Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on the administration of the state-owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma without Governing Council, describing the government’s idea as alien to university administration globally.

A 400-level Computer Engineering student of the University of Benin, Edo State, Destiny Osasenaga, has been killed by gunmen suspected to be cultists.

It was gathered that the deceased was abducted at his residence in the Uwelu area of Benin by gunmen in the presence of his father and other family members.

A source stated that the gunmen suspected to be secret cult members stormed the deceased’s house in search of his elder brother who they said had offended one of their gang members and subsequently declared him wanted.

The source added, “When they could not find their target, they abducted the deceased, put him in a Mercedez Benz GLK Jeep and zoomed off to a bush path along Benin-Akure Road by Oluku community.

“The deceased was beaten to death by the gunmen and dumped at a refuse site by the roadside,” the source added.

It was further revealed that the principal suspect, one Kenneth Ediagbonya, has been arrested by the police in his hideout in Port Harcourt, Rivers state.

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When contacted, Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident and the arrest of Ediagbonya.

He assured that other gang members who are at large would be arrested.

“It is true that one of the suspects has been arrested while other members of the gang are at large. However, the police are working hard to ensure other gang members are arrested,” he added.

The 2023 Mock-UTME earlier scheduled for Thursday, March 16, 2023, has been shifted to Thursday, March 30, 2023, The PUNCH reports.

The shift in date is partly owing to the change in the date for the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly Elections earlier scheduled to hold on Saturday, March 11, 2023, but now moved to March 18, 2023, the examination board said in a statement on Monday afternoon.

“Candidates, who registered early and indicated their willingness to take the Mock-UTME, would be notified as to when to print their Mock-UTME notification slip, which would contain their centres and other details”.

The PUNCH reports that the mock UTME is an optional examination introduced by the JAMB to provide an opportunity for candidates to have hands-on experience with the system as well as afford the board an opportunity to ascertain its readiness and that of its partners for the main UTME, which is scheduled to hold between April 29 to May 12, 2023.

“The Board also wants to use this opportunity to announce that this year’s UTME would witness some groundbreaking innovations aimed at addressing observed infractions and centre failures.

“For instance, in the new regime, if there is a delay of up to one hour before the commencement of a particular session, that session stands cancelled and would be rescheduled along with the candidates.

“By the same token, no examination can be started one hour after the scheduled commencement time. The session will be scheduled for any vacant or available slot,” JAMB said in the statement.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 168,748 registered for the 2023 mock UTME out of the over 1.5 million prospective candidates for this year’s UTME according to official statistics provided by JAMB.

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According to the official breakdown, a total of 2,200 students will sit for the mock in Abia state; Adamawa, 1,264; Akwa-Ibom, 3,981; Anambra, 6,104; Bauchi 1,572; Bayelsa 847; Benue 1,349; Borno 1,234; Cross-Rivers 1,750; Delta 7,409; Ebonyi 1,499; Edo 4,416; Ekiti 3,273; Enugu 4,443; FCT 14,863; Gombe 723; Imo 3,987; Jigawa 261; Kaduna 6,850; Kano 3,072; Katsina 1,088; Kebbi 697; Kogi 1,924; Kwara 6,544; Lagos 28,340; Nasarawa 3,332; Niger 2,491; Ogun 10,922; Ondo 4,743; Osun 7,131; Oyo 14,732.

Others are Plateau with 3,284; Rivers 9,469; Sokoto 967; Taraba 622; Yobe 1,047 and Zamfara with 318 candidates.