Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has approved the payment of salary arrears of former lecturers and staff who worked at the College of Education, Ekiadolor, now Tayo Akpata University of Education, Edo State, even as he declared that the institution will be a world class university when completed, insisting that the establishment of the school was not a political decision.
According to the statement, the pronouncement of governor which elicited joy and cheers, laid to rest the protracted industrial dispute between the management of the institution and the staff. The National Universities Commission, NUC, had in April 2016, approved the university.
According to Obaseki, “We acknowledge that there are liabilities. We owe pension, gratuities and promotions, salaries – all of those will be attended to and taken care of. As I go back now, I will instruct that all outstanding salaries for this school be paid.
“It was out of the dire need to ensure that we build a world class institution to train teachers, not only for Edo State but for the whole of West African sub-region. So, the focus is very clear. We will not accept anything that does not meet our standard. This school has to be a clear departure from what we used to know or what we used to have.”