PRE-DEGREE/CERTIFICATE REGISTRATION/SCHOOL FEES

New Council Assures Better Welfare Package To Staff At Maiden Town Hall Meeting

Under the new Governing Council that recently held its Inaugural Meeting, staff of the University are in for a better welfare package, as long as they worked contentiously and refrained from undermining the system. The Council also charged students to show full commitment to their studies and respect constituted authority to enable them learn fast and graduate within their residency period.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Professor Mvedega Jibo, gave the assurance when members of the Governing Council had a lively interactive session with a cross-section of staff at the Ebitimi Banigo Auditorium, University Park on Friday, February 10, 2017.
Addressing staff at the capacity-filled auditorium, the Pro-Chancellor described the opportunity afforded new Council Members to serve the University as a privilege that called for utmost humility and a sense of responsibility that would not be compromised under his watch.
“What has brought us here is to help this University grow to a higher level of performance that would justify our appointment.There are other equally qualified Nigerians that the Federal Government would have appointed to this job, but the lot fell on us to direct the affairs of this University and we promise to do our best to justify the confidence reposed in us by Government. My appointment is God-driven and I want to assure you, on behalf of my colleagues that you will get justice from this Council as long as you do the right thing at your various duty posts.”
He expressed hope that the new Council under his leadership will put smiles on the faces of staff and students to give them a sense of worth for their services to the University and fatherland. “Our job is to make life bearable for staff and students. When the Vice-Chancellor presented recommendations that bordered on your welfare; we had no difficulty in promptly approving them, because they are issue of welfare which are at the centre of the policy thrust of this Council.”
The new helmsman, who is a Professor of Political Science, assured the University community of the high respect he has for workers, appealing for cooperation, understanding and patience as Council settles down to put its policy thrust in place for the good governance of the University.
“This Council holds each of you dear because without you, there would be no University at all. The staff of any University are critical stakeholders in its fortunes and future direction. Let me assure you that our policies would conform to democratic standards in line with global best practices,” Professor Jibo assured the Town Hall Meeting.
He appealed to staff to cooperate with Management in order to achieve the vision of the founding fathers. “If you have any input to recommend to us for a more efficient governance of the University, I appeal to you that you do with a sense of responsibility and love for this University. We must all cooperate with Management so that we can work in concert to build the University of our dream. As long as all your demands are consistent with extant laws and within available budgetary provisions, you can be sure of getting automatic approval for your legitimate demands. It would be wicked of us to withhold any welfare package that is your legitimate entitlement and I can assure you that we will be fair and firm to all of you,” Professor Jibo told the staff that intermittently applauded his speech.
The Pro-Chancellor called for improved work attitude for efficient service delivery, warning that staff must respect the University rules and regulations, as well as the laws of the country to avoid coming into conflict with Management and Council. He further admonished them to treat the students under their care as their children and give them proper guidance and assistance to become responsible future leaders. “This Council means well to the students and we expect them to operate within the laws governing student activism on campus. Their welfare is uppermost in our mind and we will do whatever that is within our powers to create a conducive environment for them to give of their very best,” he stated.
Professor Jibo commended successive administrations for giving the University the kind of aesthetic outlook that impresses first time visitors. “Your campus is one of the cleanest campuses I have seen in this country and I wish to commend those who work so hard to make this possible. This campus is conducive for research, teaching and learning and we will do our best to support you to keep it so. I wish to pay tribute to those who have contributed in making this University what it is today and we promise to add our own quota,” he stated.
In their separate speeches, immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ajienka, Chairman of the UniPort Branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Austen Sado, Professor Gideon Abu of the Department of Physics, as well as Chairperson of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), Mrs. Beauty Igwe and Director of Emerald Energy Institute, Professor Wumi Iledare, welcomed members of the new Council to the University, assuring them of the cooperation of staff and students to take the University to the next level of academic and infrastructural development.
Earlier in his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ndowa Lale, who individually introduced members of the new Governing Council to the University community, announced the approval of the contentious End-of-Year Package, which could not be dispensed last December owing to the absence of a Governing Council. He also announced that Council expressly approved the appraisal exercise that was conducted last year for the promotion of 44 academic staff into Readership positions and the Professoriate.
“I want staff to believe us when we make promises as none of us in Management is out to either undo or shortchange anybody of his or her legitimate entitlements. We call for understanding and hard work and you can be sure that we will do the right thing at all times. The office of the Vice-Chancellor has enough statutory powers to initiate disciplinary action against any erring staff and it is important that we all study our rights and limitations as enshrined in the Staff Condition of Service in order not to come into conflict with Management,” Professor Lale told the gathering.

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