The Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has pledged to collaborate with stakeholders and Management of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) to facilitate the full resumption of academic activities following it’s closure over student protests.
Governor Otti stated this while addressing Management of the University who paid him a visit at his Nvosi country home.
The Governor charged the University Management to address the root cause of the student’s unrest to prevent future disruptions and promised to engage with them on various issues, including the upcoming launch of the Agric business incubation center which would soon be operationalized by the Institution.
Governor Otti directed his Principal Secretary and the Commissioner for Agriculture, Professor Monica Ironkwe to engage the Institution on the way forward.
Regarding the longstanding court case of unremitted PAYE taxes instituted against the MOUAU by the Abia State Internal Revenue Service two years ago, Governor Otti assured that efforts would be made for an out-of-court settlement.
He expressed willingness to tackle issues hindering the university’s acquisition of a Certificate of Occupancy for its agricultural purposes and appreciated the nomination as a trustee member by the National Institute of Food Science and Technology.
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Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Maduebibisi Iwe, lauded Governor Otti for his infrastructure projects across the state and support for the University community especially the prompt payment of salaries to workers in addition to other numerous interventions.
He appealed for assistance in obtaining the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of the land acquired by the Institution to enable them secure its boundaries and contribute to food security in the state and beyond.and resolving the PAYE dispute.
Prof Iwe informed the Governor that the Institution has taken steps towards operationalizing the Agric business incubation center set up and donated to the University by the Minister of Agriculture and food security in 2022, and called for the support of the state government.
The visit featured presentation of a letter nominating Governor Otti as a trustee member of the National Institute of Food Science and Technology, scheduled for October in Kano state.
