…threaten to withdraw services
Despite the plan by the Academic Staff Union of Universities to call off its eight months strike, the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti may not be opened for full operation.
This is sequel to the threat by the various non academic unions of the university known as Jack III to withdraw their services if government fail to pay their salaries and all other outstanding benefits
The Unions are; Senior Staff Association of Nigeria University,(SSANU), National Association of Academic Association Technologists (NAAT) and Non Academic Staff Union(NASU).
Addressing journalists at the university premises in Ado Ekiti, Chairman of SSANU, Comrade Azeez Aguda who spoke on behalf of other union leaders said it was disheartening that despite the fact that the unions suspended their strike to give room for further negotiations, government had failed to pay them their benefits.
According to Aguda, the situation which had subjected many members to unpalatable difficulties was because the government of Dr. Kayode Fayemi failed to release the monthly subvention to the university.
Aguda alleged that government is owing the unions a total of over ten billion naira which include, salaries, pension deductions, cooperative and union dues.
He called on the outgoing Governor of the State, Dr Kayode Fayemi to release their subventions before he leaves office so as to enable the management pay them their benefits.
Aguda said:”For clarity and emphasis, the University is indebted to her Staff members as follows:
Salaries and Allowances- NGN8.6Bn
Cooperative Societies – NGN1.299Bn
Trade Union Check Off Dues – NGN1.227Mn
Gratuities – NGN755Mn”
“The health and wellbeing of our members matter a lot to us hence we may not guarantee their continuous availability to/for their services henceforth and this may have unpalatable consequences on the school, especially now that the new students are resuming.”
“We are not unaware that the tenure of the outgoing Governor of Ekiti State ends in few days time but, we are also of the firm belief that Government is a continuum.”
“We are however, not losing hope that Dr Kayode Fayemi, our Governor and Visitor to the University can still release parts, if not all of the subventions before he leaves.