Abia state University Governing Council ( ASUGC ) Town Hall meeting with the university Community that comprises the Management, Senate, Staff Unions, Students Leaders , among other stakeholders.
The Pro-chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council ( PC ) Rt. Hon Dr Agwu U. Agwu, a former Speaker of the Abia State House Assembly, said that the Council is Student-centric with the vision to oversee the university as one where knowledge of science, information, communication and technology, social and management sciences , humanities and arts, as well as entrepreneurial and vocational skills are harnessed to help solve the problems of the nation.
Addressing the maiden edition of the meeting, he said it was aimed at discussing and addressing arising and outstanding matters of common interest, that would impact industrial peace and advance the university.
The forum also affords the participants to assess what has been done or not done and needs to be done, and how to do the needful towards addressing them.
The PC reiterated Council’s practice to carry all stakeholders along , expressing optimism that the town hall meetings would be analyzing issues, challenges/problems and proffering the solutions.
The Staff Unions were represented by Comrades Chidi Mba of ASUU, Chika Onuoha of NASU, Chudi Madukairo of the Senior Staff Association ( SSANU ), Ugonna Emma Ugoani of the Students Union, including Dr Mrs Christiana Eze, Principal of the Staff School.
They ( Staff Unions ) raised matters relating to some salary claims, Earned Academic Allowance, check-off dues , 2023 disengaged staff that seek re-engagement, while appealing to the Council to address them.
The elated Principal of the Staff School ( Dr Eze) on behalf of the Staff of the University’s Demonstration and International Schools, announced that the eleven years complex problem of the schools have been addressed , with the staff put in their right salary grades.
The Student Union leader Comrade Ugoani commended the GC for instituting the open town hall meeting that included students representatives, describing it as a hitherto mising but worthy slot for stakeholders to interact freely.
Rt. Hon Agwu listed the myriads of academic and administrative problems that he said his led Council that came into being in November, 2024 met, reporting that some of these problems have been addressed, but that all could not be attended to same time within the Council’s eleven months in office
These challenges/problems he stated, range from uninspired students and poorly motivated workforce, decay in infrastructure and unhealthy learning environment, high level of insecurity, that led to staff low productivity, mounting salary arrears and debts, including indiscipline, high level of gross misconduct among staff, plus declining academic standard and low student enrollment.
He said that the GC after reviewing these challenges, has been able to steer the ship back through mobilization of massive support from the state government, cooperation of the Management and other stakeholders within the university.
He reported ” Council set up various Council Committees to attend to staff welfare, discipline and other matters affecting the university, interfaced with various staff Unions on their demands in order to sustain existing industrial harmony, sought and obtained approval from the state governor and Visitor to the university Dr Alex Otti for the recruitment of another set of non- teaching staff to fill the vacant positions
He however said that the various problems/ Challenges cannot be addressed at the same , but as funds become available
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Ndukwe Okeudo said that the university is happy to have a GC led by Hon. Agwu, and Dr Alex Otti as Abia state Governor and their Visitor.
The University during the meeting honored the 66 students who won 42 Medals, comprising 20 Gold, 13 Silver and Nine Bronze, in the state maiden Tertiary Education Games held in November in Umuahia, the state capital, and rewarded with the sum of One million naira ( N1m ).
The Council also undertook inspection of the ongoing giant students Hostel and Faculty of Law Building projects within the campus
On Thursday, the Council held it’s 159th Regular meeting and told journalists after, that the approval given by the Visitor, governor Alex Otti to employ not less tha 200.academic staff was implemented.
