Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has made a firm commitment to resolve the long-standing financial crisis at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, pledging to clear accumulated salary arrears and gratuities inherited from previous governments.
A Promise to Revive a University on 'Life Support'
The governor gave this assurance on 15 December 2025 when he received the Vice-Chancellor of AAU, Professor (Mrs.) Eunice Eboserehimen Omonzejie, and her management team on a courtesy visit at the Government House in Benin City. Through a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Patrick Ebojele, Okpebholo acknowledged the depth of the institution's challenges.
He commended the new management's progress, stating that from their presentation, it was clear Ambrose Alli University was on life support. The governor expressed his administration's determination to support the university's efforts to reposition itself and restore its lost glory.
Billions in Unpaid Salaries Declared 'Unacceptable'
Governor Okpebholo specifically addressed the critical issue of unpaid staff salaries, describing the situation where people work for years without pay as fundamentally unfair. "It is not right for people to work and not be paid," he declared.
He vowed to personally take on the project of resolving the backlog of unpaid salaries, pensions, and gratuities, which run into billions of naira. The governor emphasized that these were inherited liabilities that his administration is now committed to addressing.
Beyond Salaries: Infrastructure and Accreditation Needs
The university management also presented other pressing needs requiring urgent government intervention. These include:
- Critical hostel infrastructure and lecture theatre construction.
- Accreditation-related challenges for various programmes.
- Specific facilities required for the Medical Laboratory Science programme.
While noting that the 2025 budget is at an advanced stage, Governor Okpebholo urged the university to properly capture these needs in their proposals for consideration and support.
VC Highlights 'Life-Saving' Interventions
In her remarks, Vice-Chancellor Professor Omonzejie explained that the delay in the courtesy visit was due to a recent accreditation exercise and the need to fully assess the university's dire state. She revealed she inherited a moribund institution plagued by infrastructural decay, unpaid salaries, and accreditation woes.
She, however, expressed profound gratitude to Governor Okpebholo for what she termed "life-saving interventions" already undertaken since he assumed office. These include:
- Approval of an increased monthly subvention.
- Restoration of affected staff to the payroll.
- Support for graduating backlog medical students.
- Improved security logistics on campus.
- Facilitation of road construction through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
This high-level meeting signals a renewed push by the Edo State government to stabilize one of its foremost tertiary institutions and ensure the welfare of its academic and non-academic staff.
