Ekpoma, January 26, 2026 — Staff unions at Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, have passed a series of far-reaching resolutions addressing tax policy, salary arrears, allowances, and administrative appointments. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), AAU Chapter, and the Joint Action Committee (JAC) comprising the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), convened separate congresses on January 26, 2026, and issued strong statements challenging recent decisions of the university administration.
ASUU AAUE Resolutions on Tax Policy, Salaries, and Staff Welfare
The ASUU Congress deliberated extensively on the implementation of the new tax law, outstanding staff entitlements, and administrative procedures. Key resolutions as signed by the Chairperson, Dr. Cyril Oziegbe Onogbosele and Dr. William Odion, Secretary include:
1. Tax Policy and Salary Structure
– The University Administration must not implement the new tax law without simultaneously adopting the new salary structure effective January 2026.
– The Tax Committee shall be expanded to critically examine the new tax policy vis-à-vis the law.
2. Memorandum on New Tax Regime
– Congress condemned the unilateral release of the memorandum on the “New Tax Regime” without prior consultation with staff and unions.
– The Union through the Chairman reaffirmed the tax relief agreement reached with the Edo State Government under Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
– The Stakeholders’ Committee on Tax, earlier constituted under Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Sunday Olowo Samuel, must be revived to comprehensively address tax matters.
– The University Administration must provide ASUU with a copy of the new tax law document and allow negotiations with the Edo State Government for reliefs or waivers.
– Any implementation of the new tax law must proceed concurrently with the new salary structure.
3. Outstanding Salaries
– Congress urged immediate payment of staff salaries for December 2025 and all outstanding arrears.
4. SIWES Allowances
– Congress denounced the breach of statutory entitlements in the recent payment of SIWES allowances.
– It insisted that SIWES allowances, being products of collective bargaining, cannot be unilaterally altered and must be paid appropriately for all outstanding sessions.
5. Administrative Procedures
– Congress criticized the memorandum issued by the University Bursar requesting staff personal information for tax purposes, describing it as a breach of administrative protocol.
– The University Administration was urged to strictly adhere to established procedures in official communication with staff and Heads of Departments.
In another development the Joint Action Committee (NAAT, NASU, SSANU) Resolutions signed by Chairpersons and Secretaries on Appointments and Tax Policy also made available through our reporter showed that:
The JAC Congress expressed grave dissatisfaction with recent administrative appointments and financial policies. Its resolutions include:
1. Alleged Breach of Appointment Protocols
– The appointments of Dr. Akhor Sadiq Oshoke as University Bursar and Dr. Peter Ibhawabegehe as Director of Audit were declared illegitimate, having violated the Staff Service Regulation approved by the Governing Council on June 30, 2017.
– The unions argued that the appointments bypassed the mandatory processes of advertisement and interview, and were made based on undisclosed interests.
– Both positions, traditionally reserved for non-academic staff (particularly SSANU members), were improperly filled by academic staff.
– Dr. Oshoke was deemed unqualified, lacking the minimum 15 years of post-qualification experience, including eight years in a university bursary, as required by law.
– The Director of Audit’s appointment was criticized for being made without advertisement or interview as against the rules and regulations governing the appointment of Principal officials.
The congress demanded immediate withdrawal of both appointments, declaration of the positions as vacant, and proper advertisement and interviews in line with university regulations. Failure to comply would compel the unions to pursue all legitimate means to challenge the appointments.
2. Opposition to New Tax Regime
– The JAC opposed the proposed implementation of the Federal Government’s new tax regime in January 2026, noting that it had not yet been enforced at the federal level.
– The unions demanded a detailed deduction template before implementation and urged the University to await the conclusion of the ongoing 2009 FG–Union renegotiation exercise, which is expected to produce a new salary package.
3. Demand for Salary Payments and Arrears
– The unions called for immediate payment of outstanding arrears, including salaries, promotion arrears dating back to 2019, and other deductions.
– They insisted that January 2026 salaries must be paid without delay and not used as leverage for implementing the new tax regime.
Final Warning: The JAC declared its readiness to resist the tax policy through all legitimate means should the University fail to address the issues raised.
The resolutions of ASUU and JAC underscore growing tensions between staff unions and the Ambrose Alli University administration. Both unions have demanded transparency, adherence to due process, and respect for collective bargaining agreements. Their unified stance signals potential escalation if the University fails to address the grievances raised.
