…ISSUE 48HRS ULTIMATUM TO MANAGEMENT
Workers of the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti under the auspices of Joint Action Committee JAC III have given management of the institution 48hrs to pay their outstanding three months salaries and other benefits in order to guarantee industrial harmony.
JAC III comprises, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU).
Addressing newsmen after a joint congress at the University premises, the Workers who spoke through
SSANU Chairman, Comrade Temidayo Azeez Aguda noted that Governor, Biodun Oyebanji at the weekend during the “Meet Your Governor Show” confirmed that he was not owing subvented institutions in which EKSU is not an exception wondering why the management had failed to pay them since October last year.
According to Aguda, the non payment of their salaries had subjected workers to untold hardship and difficulties hence the need for the ultimatum which he said if not complied with, the workers would embark on strike.
Chairman of the EKSU chapter of NASU, Mr. Sunday Olajutemu, said that the protest became necessary after the governor made a clarification during the maiden edition of Meet Your Governor that the government is not owning the state tertiary institution as a subvention rather than the inherited outstanding August 2018 subvention.
In his contribution, Chairman, National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), Comrade Adeosun O. Mary, said:”We are suffering for our salary, the last salary we received was October, and we heard that the subvention has not been given to the state University, that’s what the Management is telling us, but now that Mr Governor has open up the window that the subvention has been given, that is why we are asking our Management to release our salary and arrears.
“Our prayers are many but the top most is our welfare, payment of our salary as and when due, we are in the month of 2024 expecting the salary of November, 2023, who does that in this present economy where a dollar is N1,550, how do we cope, we have children in school, we have families to feed, how about our medication.
“We have done this work, we are asking for what is due to us. Are we not worthy of our wage, have we not discharge our duties, let the management pay us. The Local government and teachers have been paid what is our offense. Let the government please come to our aid, let Governor Biodun Oyebanji help us out we need his help, we are his subject.
The workers in their large number changed solidarity songs to show their grievances.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Vice Chancellor of Academics, Prof. Joseph Babatola, said that the school management was working to ensure that the welfare of the workers was taken care of.
He assured that the workers would in any moment receive their November salaries.