Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has pledged to investigate the circumstances behind the delayed induction of the 2015 set of medical students from Ambrose Alli University (AAU) in Ekpoma, despite graduating months ago.
Okpebholo made the pledge on Thursday when he stopped over on his way from Irrua to address a number of protesting medical students at the institution’s gate in Ekpoma.
Speaking to newsmen after listening to the appeals of the protesting medical students who had spent ten years in medical school, the Governor said he feels their pains as a father, assuring them that he will invite the acting Vice Chancellor to discuss the way out.
He noted that his administration wants the best for its citizens, including the protesting medical students, urging them to be patient while the issues are resolved in earnest.
“I have heard you and are also in pain about the way you are right now. I have heard about this particular issue of accreditation and others.
“I am going to invite the acting Vice Chancellor of the institution to discuss and look into the matter and see how to resolve it as quickly as possible. Just be patient. Everything will be fine,” he counseled.
Spokesperson for the students, Precious Omohegbele, said she and her colleagues had spent ten years in medical school and graduated since August last year but have not been inducted.
She appealed to the governor to step in and help resolve the crisis and ensure the 2015 Medical set of AAU gets inducted to enable them to go for their Housemanship.
“We are the 2015 set of medical students of AAU, and we are medical graduates now. We graduated on August 15, 2024, and have spent five months at home, and we have not been inducted. We ought to be halfway into our house training by now.
“There might be problems hindering our induction, but we can not keep waiting as we have already spent ten years in medical school (2015-2025).
“We are appealing to Your Excellency to save us from this situation. You are the only person we can appeal to at this point to help resolve these challenges facing us.
“It would be unfair for 167 of us to remain at home after ten years of training as we are not growing younger each passing day,” she said.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Fred Itua, explained that the State-owned university had suffered many challenges under the former governor, Godwin Obaseki Administration, ranging from lack of funding, failure to attract investments and partnership to the University, none payment of workers salaries, failure to implement the national minimum wage, support for structural growth as well as non-accreditation of courses, among others.
“Instead of addressing the existential challenges, the then administration inaugurate a Special Intervention Team (SLT), led by some of their political friends who embarked on witch hunting, sacking lecturers, hiking tuition fees and causing more problems.
“It was under the same administration that university unions, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Congress of University Academics (CONUA), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria University (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologist (NAAT) and None Academic Staff Union of University (NASUU), serially embarked on strikes due to unpaid salaries, unfriendly policies, appointment of Acting Vice Chancellor for the university and other governance issues.
“However, in a bold move to reposition the school, Governor Okpebholo, upon assumption of office, directed the immediate reinstatement of all AAU staff who were dismissed in March 2023.
“The lecturers were reportedly dismissed for protesting against unfavourable labour practices, including the non-payment of their salaries and other outstanding entitlements,” the statement said.
