All staff of the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi in Ovia South West Local Government Area have been sacked.
In August last year, Governor Godwin Obaseki announced closure of the institution with a promise to revamping the institution.
Students of the institution were sent to several agricultural firms for industrial attachment and to be paid the sum of N20, 000 monthly.
Sack of the staff was contained in a letter signed by the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Monday Osaigbovo and dated May 25, 2018.
Osaigbovo in the letter titled, “Restructuring of the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi”, said the termination of the appointment was due to restructuring of the institution.
According to the letter, “Restructuring of the College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi. I am directed to refer to the above mentioned subject and to inform you that following the restructuring of the college of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi and its subsequent closure, government has decided that your services are no longer required with effect from 31st January, 2018.
“You are requested to handover all government properties in your possession to the permanent secretary, ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources immediately.
“Furthermore, I am to add that in line with your terms of engagement, your cheque for January 2018, monthly salary with one month in lieu of notice is herewith attached”, he said.
The sacked staff however led a street protest saying their removal did not follow due process.
A protest letter presented by the protesters, said there was no consultation with staff of the institution on the restructuring process neither was there any option of redeployment of staff to other ministry or institution before the massive sack letters were issued to them.
“There was no due process followed by the governor in relieving us of our duties as permanent or confirmed staff in public service, as this contravenes the provisions of the public service rules.
“By record of service, majority of the staff had put up to a minimum of ten years in service while others had put in almost twenty years and that since the governor visited the school on August 7, 2017 and its subsequent temporary closure till date, there is no evidence of any form of infrastructure or administrative restructuring by the governor as against the six months he promised during his visit,” the stated.