Unpaid Wages: Ondo Varsities Embark on Indefinite Strike

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) and NAAT in the three Ondo state-owned universities: Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, and University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, will on Monday, February 26 begin an indefinite strike.

A statement co-signed by its chairman, Comrade Tayo Ogungbeni and Secretary, Comrade Kunle Akinwonmi, lamented over unpaid wages and other sundry issues.

The statement reads: “The said universities shall be embarking on indefinite industrial strike, effective from 12:00 am of Monday, 26th February, 2024 to press home the payment of the #35,000 wage award, three tranches of which have been paid to other civil servants in the state.

“Other issues in contention are as follows: Immediate implementation of 2019 National Minimum Wage to OAUSTECH, Okitipupa and UNIMED, Ondo; 100% increment in the statutory subvention to all the state universities; release of capital votes for all the state universities, and bailout for payment of third parties deductions from Cooperative Societies/Check-off dues and payment of the retirement benefits of our retired members.”

It lamented that various efforts to get the authorities to address their demands before resorting to industrial action were unsuccessful.

“JAC has done everything humanly possible to get the state government to address the said complaints, including meeting with the State Deputy Governor and the Chief of Staff to the Governor as well as doing several letters to the State Governor, the University Pro-Chancellors and the Governing Council of various universities and Managements; all our efforts have since proved abortive.

“This is painful but a necessary decision to take because our members are dying of hunger. In view of the scorching economic situation we found ourselves, it is now difficult for us to transport ourselves to our various offices and our salaries could no longer take us anywhere. It is in the best interest of our state for the Visitor, His Excellency, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, to use his good office to resolve this issue without further delay”, he said.