The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma chapter, on Thursday, said it was appalled by the institution’s refusal to withdraw the letter of disengagement issued to two of its members on March 10, 2023, despite the directives of the Edo State Government.

According to a statement on Thursday, signed by the union’s chairman, Dr Cyril Onogbosele, and Assistant Secretary, Dr William Odion, the AAU chapter of ASUU threatened to “enagage in legal processes” to resolve the matter “if the letters of disengagement/retirement are not unconditionally withdrawn by the university authorities.”

“The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma chapter is constrained to inform members of the university community, Edo State Government, and the general public of the deliberate refusal of the Special Intervention Team /management of AAU, Ekpoma, to withdraw the letters of disengagement issued to two of its members on March 10, 2023.

“The union is appalled and worried about the defiance of the university authorities against the backdrop of the pronouncement by Edo State Government that the letters of disengagement and retirement served on Dr Jude Obasanmi (Department of Economics), and Prof. Eunice Omonzejie (Department of Modern Languages), are illegal, null and void.

“On the same matter, among other issues, at the meeting of the Visitor to the university and Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, with stakeholders on March 16, 2023, the governor reaffirmed the earlier position of the state government that he did not authorise the disengagement of the aforesaid staff in the university,” the union said.

The statement also described as unacceptable the silence of the university management over the non-withdrawal of the sack letters; saying it was a ploy to wish away the matter and render the affected staff perpetually sacked.