SENIOR STAFF ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES (SSANU) COMMENDS AE-FUNAI VC FOR WORKERS’ WELFARE DISPOSITION
The Zonal Administrative Council and Zonal Executive Council of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Southeast zone, have commended the Vice-Chancellor of Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ebonyi State, Prof. Sunday Elom for his workers’ welfare disposition.

The two organs stated this during the 3rd Quarter Regular meeting of SSANU, held at the University. The one day event which took place at the Abubakar Adamu Rasheed auditorium on 29th September, 2021, deliberated on issues affecting the Union and its members and how best to make sure unionists were given their entitlements in order to perform effectively in the university system.


VC, Prof. Sunday Elom (C) and some principal officers in a group photograph with members of SSANU Zonal Administration Council during the visit
While speaking during a courtesy call on the Vice-Chancellor, the National Vice President, South-east zone of the association, Comrade Ken Njoku commended Prof. Elom for being a workers’-friendly Vice-Chancellor, adding that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of SSANU, is happy because of the industrial peace that exists in the University due to the cordial relationship existing between the University Management and workers.

He maintained that unlike what is obtainable in many universities in Nigeria where staff and management are always at loggerhead due to poor welfare; AE-FUNAI has been an exception, as the brief from the Union local chapter shows that the Vice-chancellor is favourably disposed to workers’ welfare.


Comrade Ken Njoku speaking at the event
He urged the Vice-Chancellor to continue in the good stead, noting that the Union will continue to support his administration in order to take the University to greater heights.

Welcoming the ZAC and ZEC members to the University, Prof. Elom pointed out that staff welfare remains a top priority of his administration, because a poorly motivated staff cannot perform at optimal level.

He emphasized that during his inaugural address to staff he made it clear that staff welfare would be his priority, adding that nothing has changed as he is irrevocably committed to fulfilling his promise.


VC, Prof. Sunday Elom in a group photograph with members of SSANU ZAC and ZEC during the event
Continuing, the Vice-Chancellor stated that staff promotion will also continue to be done as at when due, adding that the University has no backlog of staff promotion.

He vowed to make sure that the non- teaching staff are exposed to relevant conferences and training programmes to enhance their operational capacities, skills and productivity.

He also hinted that more staff quarters will be built to make life more comfortable for staff as it is important that they reside inside the school premises, noting also that the University Governing Council had directed that the Vice-Chancellor’s lodge be built, which according to him, will enable him reside in the University before the expiration of his tenure.


VC, Prof. Sunday Elom, addressing the SSANU members at the event
On the intractable labour issues confronting the University system, the Vice-Chancellor advised all the university-based staff unions to close ranks and work together in order to be taken seriously by Government.



Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), AE-FUNAI chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Chigbata said the Union deemed it wise to pay a courtesy call on Prof. Elom, because he is not only the Vice-Chancellor of the University but more importantly, a father.

He noted that he is proud to describe the Vice-Chancellor as father because he has been in the forefront of alleviating the sufferings of the staff, adding that since assumption of duty, the Vice-Chancellor has refurbished some hitherto abandoned buses to ease the challenges of staff transportation.

He therefore advised the Vice-chancellor not to rest on his oars, especially in the area of staff welfare in order to continue to enjoin the loyalty and support of the University staff.


Chairman, SSANU, AE-FUNAI chapter, Comrade Emmanuel Chigbata speaking at the event