AKHA RECOMMENDS REABSORPTION OF SACKED LECTURERS OF A'IBOM VARSITY

Speaker Luke

The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly today during plenary intervened in the alleged wrongful sacking and downgrading of workers in the Akwa Ibom State University, demanding the backdating of their confirmation by one year from the date of appointment.

The House unanimously adopted the six resolutions made by the joint Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Right and Public Petitions and that of Education on the matter, one of which is that now that the issue has been resolved, the institution should ensure that none of the affected staff or Union leaders should be victimized for the roles they played in the course of seeking justice.

Hon. Barr. Dennis

Three months ago, the House deliberated on the issue which was brought before the House by member representing Abak State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Friday Iwok under Matter of urgent public Importance.

The matter was referred to the House Committee on Judiciary, Justice, Human Rights and Public Petitions and the Committee on Education to investigate with a view to proffering possible solutions.

In their resolutions, the House directed that “the petitioners having stayed for more than two years should not only be regularized but also confirmed and the date of their regularization and confirmation backdated to one year and two years, respectively, from the date of their appointments.

The lawmakers also agreed that the petitioners that are already due for promotion, scholarship, sponsorship or any other entitlements, including arrears of salaries, should have their entitlement given to them after due process have been followed, and urged their employers to expedite action in that direction.

The petitioners were also cautioned “to desist from further use of improper, combative and confrontational language against members of the Governing Council and management of the university”.

On his part, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke commended the Joint Committee for doing a thorough job.

He said that the resolution on the matter was made possible by the cooperation of Akwa Ibom State University with the state legislature, adding that the gesture underlines the synergy between governmental agencies and institutions in the state.

The report was submitted to the House by the committee's Chairman, Hon. Barr. Aniefiok Dennis, who represents Etinan State constituency.

Barr. Dennis briefed the House on steps taken in the course of its assignment and explained that the committee interfaced with the affected staff, council members, management as well as and union leaders with a view of getting to root of the matter.