Edo sacks 400 College of Agriculture workers

The Edo State government has sacked 400 staff of the state- owned College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi in Ovia North-East local government area of the state.

The governor had on August, 2017 temporarily shutdown the institution with a promise to revamp it so that the graduates will be employable.

The state government announced the sack in a letter dated May 25, 2018 and signed by the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Monday Osaigbovo.

The letter titled, “Restructuring of the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, “said following the restructuring of the college and subsequent closure, government has decided to terminate their services with effect from January 31, 2018.

However, the staff staged a peaceful protest to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II and the Speaker of the State House of Assembly yesterday, urging them to intervene as due process was not followed.

One of the protesters who craved anonymity said over N400 staff on the pay roll of the institution, including the provost, were affected by the sack.

Meanwhile, staff and students of the college have instituted a legal action against the state government and its agents at the National Industrial Court, Akure Division asking it to declare that the disengagement of the entire staff of the institution as well as its closure negates the extant law establishing it.

When contacted the media aid to governor, Crusoe Osagie, said he would get back to the reporter but could not before filling the report.