Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State on Thursday announced the sack of the entire staff of the state-owned College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state.
The 37-year-old institution was established by the civilian administration of the late Prof. Ambrose Ali. It was shut down by a military governor, but later reopened by the Lucky Igbinedion administration in 2001.
The school, which offers Ordinary Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Agricultural Technology, Animal Science, Crop Science, Agricultural Extension and Management was in August, 2017 temporarily shut down by the Godwin Obaseki-led government, promising to revamp the institution.
Obaseki said the college was closed down because of poor standards, which is not befitting of a College of Agriculture worth its salt.
“I shut down the school to enable me invest money and bring it up to standard. I will revamp the school so that the graduates will be employable,” the governor explained.
He disclosed that he is in talks with Okomu Oil Palm Company Plc; Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR), and PRESCO Plc to join hands with his administration to revamp the institution, help train students and provide them with employment.
“I will provide allowances to the 261 students in the school and send them to farms for industrial training,” he added.
The termination of the appointment of all the staff members was contained in letters by the state government signed by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Monday Osaigbovo, and dated May 25, 2018.
In the letter titled, ‘Restructuring of the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi,’ the commissioner stated that following the restructuring of the college and subsequent closure, government has decided to terminate the services of all the staff with effect from January 31, 2018.
“I am directed to refer to the above mentioned subject and to inform you that following the restructuring of the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, and its subsequent closure, government has decided that your services are no longer required with effect from 31st January, 2018.
“You are requested to handover all government properties in your possession to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, immediately.
“Furthermore, I am to add that in line with your terms of engagement, your cheque for January 2018 monthly salary with one month in lieu of notice is herewith attached.”
The staff, in a peaceful protest to the Oba of Benin palace, said their sack did not follow due process.
They stressed that more than 400 staff members that are in the nominal pay roll of the institution, including the provost, were affected by the sack.
They also took a copy of their protest letter to the state House of Assembly for onward transmission to the Speaker of the House, Kabiru Adjoto.
They opined that there was no consultation with staff of the institution on the restructuring process, neither was there any option of redeployment of staff to other ministries or institutions before the mass sack was implemented by the state government.
According to them, “There was no due process followed by the governor in relieving us of our duties as permanent or confirmed staff in public service, as this contravenes the provisions of the public service rules.
“By record of service, majority of the staff members had put up to a minimum of 10 years in service while others had put in almost 20 years.
“And since the governor visited the school on August 7, 2017, and its subsequent temporary closure, till date, there is no evidence of any form of infrastructure improvement or administrative restructuring by the governor, who had promised to have these done in six months during his visit.”
