May 4, 2017
By Ijendu Iheaka
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Abia State University Chapter has called on the state governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu to increase the institution’s subvention to enable them function optimally.
The Chairman of the ABSU ASUU, Mr Ochi Ejimofor made the call when the union paid Ikpeazu a visit at the government lodge in Aba.
Ejimofor said that Ikpeazu’s appointment of a new ABSU VC and a Rector for Abia polytechnic showed he had good plans and had given education a pride of place in Abia state.
He therefore called on the governor to assist the institution meet its financial obligation and cater for its workforce which has a wage bill of N250 million by increasing its monthly subvention.
The ASSU Chairman also asked Ikpeazu to also build an academic staff secretariat for them and to give them a research bus in place of the moribund one they owned.
They urged the governor to maintain his leadership focus although faced with much opposition adding that God would help him fulfil His purpose for choosing him.
Dr Ogbonnaya Onuoha, the immediate past ABSU ASSU chairman said that they were proud of Ikpeazu and his achievements hence the decision to visit him at this time.
He said that ASUU waited to see if the governor would do them proud before visiting him adding that the body is not one that visits governments to sing praises to it.
Onuoha said that having seen what Ikpeazu was committed to doing in Abia, the ABSU ASSU would not leave him alone but would support him.
He urged all who were fighting the governor to desist from doing so adding that Ikpeazu needed more of encouragement in Abia because he has ideas, focus and commitment as a capable leader.
In his response, Governor Ikpeazu said he felt so proud by the visit and admitted that ASSU was not a frivolous body given to visiting and singing any body’s praises.
He thanked them for holding the forth at the university stressing that the teachers’ reward - the “dependence of many souls to learn at their feet”- was more than any reward a person could seek.
He noted that the problem with Nigerians had was craving primordial things instead of things that would last or that mattered adding that life had more to offer than material acquisitions.
He said that he never knew how much the Abia State University, Uturu was worth in the eyes of non-indigenes until he took office as the governor of the state.
Ikpeazu promised to give them a research vehicle saying that if funds were available he would look into their other requests.
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