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By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), in the state owned Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, has embarked on indefinite strike to protest the new tax regime of the state government.
The ASUU also called for the immediate resignation of the state Commissioner for Education for alleged frustration of the peaceful resolution of the grievances of the union against the new tax regime.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the ASUU, Sunday Ighalo and Secretary, Monday Igbafen, the Union complained that irrespective of all the efforts made to ensure that government reviews its new tax policy as it relates to the university, “the government refused to see reasons with us.

Congress expressed regrets that even the intervention/dialogue spearheaded by the National Executive Council (NEC) of the Union, it failed to make government see reasons to review the anti workers tax regime”.

According to the statement, “Congress unanimously resolved to immediately proceed on an indefinite strike action to press for a redress of the tax situation in the university, including the refund of excess of money deducted from members under the guise of taxation.

Congress, therefore, resolve and directed members to stay away from the university campus till further notice. Members are forbidden to take part in all academic and administrative functions till further notice”.

It added: “Congress also reviewed the role of the state Commissioner for Education in the matter and felt embarrassed by the information provided by the state Commissioner for Education to the effect that an Associate Professor pays as much as above N50,000 monthly as tax, contrary to the true situation in the University of Lagos where an Associate Professor is paying N4,546.20.

“ Congress further viewed the action of the Commissioner as unbecoming and resolved that the Commissioner should resign or be sacked immediately for giving false information to the Governor” it stated.