Stakeholders have kicked against plans by Edo State government to convert the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State into a multi-campus institution.

The Government disclosed the plan to create three Campuses in Oredo, and Owan federal Constituencies while Ekpoma remains the main Campus at the Education Policy Town Hall meeting convened by the Ministry of Education in Benin City, Edo State on February 18, 2022.

But a Press statement by the Stakeholders in Edo Central Senatorial district of the State led by its spokesman, Elder Patrick Agbator, described the move as ‘unpopular policy which is at best retrogressive’ and ‘anti-people and condemnable’.

He called on the Government to channel the funds proposed for the for the multi-campuses project to “provide needed equipment, pay Staff outstanding salaries and personal emoluments, provide equipment towards restoring the accreditation of the Faculty of medicine which had been withdrawn by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN for failure to provide the required equipment”.

The spokesman of the group, lamented that the Government policy would have a negative multiplier effects on teaching, learning and research while salaries and other personal emoluments which are now paid with discretion with the splitting of salaries of Staff members, statutory deductions to professional unions and cooperative societies and other savings platforms of Staff.

Part of the statement read: “We passionately appeal to the Governor to spare Edo State the needless expenditure that would be involved in the balkanization of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma into a multi-campus institution and channel the funds earmarked for the exercise into the University to provide needed equipment, pay Staff outstanding salaries and personal emoluments, provide equipment for the accreditation of the faculty of medicine which has been withdrawn by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN for failure to provide the required equipment”.

“The Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma has been lying prostrate since the inception of the present administration in the State in November 2016 as the monthly subvention to the institution has been reduced drastically with the attendant negative multiplier effects on teaching, learning and research while salaries and other personal emoluments are now paid with discretion with the splitting of salaries of staff members, statutory deductions to professional unions and cooperative societies and other savings platforms of Staff have been outrightly confiscated by the State government through the instruction’s authority”, Agbator alleged.

The State Governor had explained at the Town Hall meeting that the two additional Campuses of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), would be established in Oredo Local Council and Owan Federal Constituency will focus on Technology and Engineering Studies as well as Agriculture and Natural Resources respectively.

According to him, “We are also converting the Ambrose Alli University, which was founded in 1980 by Prof. Ambrose Alli, former Governor of the defunct Bendel State, to a multi-campus institution.

“The main Campus would be in Ekpoma, while the two new Campuses would be located in Oredo Local Government and Owan Federal Constituency. The Oredo campus will focus on Technology and Engineering, while the sister Campus in Owan would be for agriculture and natural resources”.

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