Workers of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State, under the Joint Action Committee have threatened to embark on an industrial action over issues relating to their welfare and subvention to the university.
The workers include Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) , Non Academic Staff of Universities and Allied Educational Institutions(NASU) and the National Association of Academic Technologist (NAAT).
According to the text of a press conference signed by Temola Temidayo on behalf of JAC OAUSTECH, the workers explained that they have been subjected to untold hardship due to the failure of the state government to fulfil its obligations to them.
The full text of the press conference;
” Protocols,
” Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press,you are invited here today to keep the public abreast of our plight as workers of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology.
You would recall that late last year,we threatened not to resume work this new year until our demands and agitations are met.
” We, however,with shock received the sad news of our Governor and Visitor to the University towards the end of the year precisely on 26th of December,2023 and as such further action as a Union was suspended to mourn our departed Governor.
” It is on that note that we commiserate with the Government and the good people of Ondo State on the demise of our former Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu. We pray that his soul rests in peace.
” Having observed the rituals of mourning of our departed Governor, our agitations remain unabated.
” For the record and avoidance of doubt,the agitations are listed below.
1. Non implementation of 2019 minimum wage.
2. Discrimination in payment of #35,000 wage award.
3. Reduction and delay in release of subvention and non payment of approved budgetary allocation of subvention.
” Distinguished ladies and gentlemen,it would sadden you to note that as we speak,the 2019 minimum wage has not been effected in our salaries.
You would recall that the minimum wage law in 2019 was a response to inflation of prices and commodities of that period. Can you now imagine the geometrical increase in prices of goods and services thereafter and we do not need any soothsayer to tell the whole world that no group of workers is more impoverished than the workers in this University. We therefore call on our Government, the Governing Council and Management, to implement this wage increase without further delay. This becomes more imperative against the background that the 2019 wage increase expired last year and the Federal Government has promised to conclude negotiations and begin implementation of a new minimum wage this year.
” On the wage award,it is trite to inform you that the Ondo State government commenced the payment of this wage award in the month of November,2023, and made a subsequent payment in December.
” The wage award is intended to cushion the effects of the hardship experienced by Nigerian Workers as a result of fuel subsidy removal.
” Our question then is that does the subsidy removal not affect University workers in Ondo State?
Do we patronize different markets?
” For us, we find this development not only discriminatory but also a recipe for industrial disharmony in the state.
We maintain that continuous discriminatory payment will not be tolerated nor accepted.
” Again,it is also saddening to note that before the present administration in Ondo State, the subvention to the University is #60 million naira and all of a sudden reduced to #42 million naira and later to #54 million naira monthly.
” As a today, the wage bill of the University is about #100,000 million naira monthly.
This obviously explains why salaries are not paid regularly and other sundry payments are owed and in arrears for months.
” The thinking of the government of Ondo State that the University generates money internally to augment the subvention is quite lame.
As far as we know,the major internally generated revenue for the University is through payable fees from the students and these fees are attached to services to be rendered to the students. More worrisome is when the money is budgeted for and not appropriated accordingly.
” We call on the state Government to release the subvention timely and in line with budgetary provision.
” Finally,in line with the resolution of Ondo State Joint Action Committee of Non Teaching Staff Union,we are putting the government of Ondo State,our University Governing Council and Management on notice of impending industrial action if the aforementioned issues are not resolved as a matter of urgency and within the shortest time possible.”
