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The Acting Vice-Chancellor of Moses Orshio Adasu University, Prof. Simon Ubwa, on Wednesday in Makurdi announced the long-awaited promotion of 146 senior academic staff whose cases had remained unresolved for years.
Ubwa who became Acting Vice-Chancellor on June 11, 2025 after serving as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) described the prolonged delay as unacceptable.
He stated, “When I came, there were 146 Senior Lecturers and Associate Professors who were waiting for their promotions from 2021, 2022 and 2023, and we desired to clear the backlog of the arrears of promotions.
According to him, the exercise was handled in phases: “The first batch was 90, the second batch had 38, and we are going to Council this time, and then we will release, hopefully, the last batch. So the 146 people will get their promotions.”
The VC said leaving such matters unresolved could create unrest. “It was unacceptable to let it linger because in anything I do, I also imagine that if I were in that person’s shoes. In other places, it could degenerate into a serious crisis. So those promotions were made,” he noted.
Ubwa revealed that his administration has also tackled long-standing utility problems on campus. Water supply has been restored to staff quarters and hostels so that female students no longer need to trek long distances.
He added that the university’s persistent electricity issues, especially at the Library, Faculty of Environmental Sciences Complex, and the School Clinic, were resolved within a week.
“And the nine power generators on campus, which were all bad, we got them fixed and running again,” he said.
Highlighting his leadership style, Prof. Ubwa remarked, “I personally supervise those I give assignments. I supervise the cleaners to ensure that they do their daily work. I go round to ensure that work is done, I do not allow room for failure. That is what being the head entails.”
Addressing the ongoing industrial action by non-academic staff, the VC expressed disappointment, explaining that all contentious issues had already been addressed and were awaiting final government approval.
He emphasized Governor Hyacinth Alia’s commitment to workers’ welfare, saying the governor had instructed the Secretary to the State Government and the Head of Service to review the union’s demands and present them for approval if acceptable.
A Memorandum of Agreement was signed by the government’s team, university management, and the union. Prof. Ubwa quoted the Council Chairman as appealing for patience.
“The Chairman of Council pleaded that they should be patient and give us up to end of September to sort everything out with government and ensure that they are paid… if you had waited for this long, can’t you be patient for about three or four weeks?”
He assured that both the university management and the state government are working to resolve the dispute so that striking workers can promptly resume their duties.
Benue varsity clears promotion backlog, elevates 146 lecturers
