Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions’ workers declare indefinite strike

The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of four workers’ unions in Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions has announced plans to embark on an indefinite strike from Monday 26 February, should the government fail to accede to its demands.

The unions include the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP).

The four institutions are Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba; Ondo State University of Science and Technology Okitipupa; Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

The notice of industrial action was contained in a statement by JAC and signed by its Chairperson, Tayo Ogungbeni, and Secretary, Kunle Akinwonmi.

JAC said: “The above committee under the auspices of SSANU, NASU, NAAT, and SSANIP hereby registered her displeasure over the attitude of Ondo State Government, Governing Councils, and University Management on manners with which issues bordering on the welfare of staff of tertiary institutions in the state are handled.”

The unions listed issues in contention to include the non-payment of wage award of N35,000 as being paid to other workers in the state; and non-implementation of 2019 minimum wage in some of the state-owned tertiary institutions.

Others are; 100 per cent increase in subvention across all tertiary institutions in the state to cater for regular payment of salaries and ‘billions of naira owed’ across tertiary institutions in the state which include deductions from salaries, and earned allowances.

JAC noted that the unions have jointly explored several options to have the government attend to their demands and alleviate the plights of members but that the efforts have failed.

JAC said that it has done ‘everything humanly possible’ to bring the plights of its members to the governor’s attention through a series of letters, meetings, and contacts with relevant authorities. Yet, it said, “the government has turned deaf ears” to their plights.

On 14th December 2023, JAC said it wrote to Lucky Aiyedatiwa, then acting governor, and all pro-chancellors and vice-chancellors of the affected institutions on issues bordering on the workers’ welfare.

On 5th January, JAC said it again wrote the chairperson of individual governing councils and the institutions’ vice-chancellors.

On 2nd February, JAC said it requested the audience of the Governor Aiyedatiwa, but that the request was never attended to.

On 6th February, JAC said it met with the Chief of Staff to the Governor regarding the non-payment of wage award of N35,000 as being paid to other workers in the state and the non-implementation of the 2019 minimum wage in some of the state-owned tertiary institutions.

“He promised to convey our message to Mr Governor and communicate to the leadership of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU, NASU, NAAT and SSANIP of Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions,” JAC said.

JAC noted that it also visited the Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Olayide Adelami, to congratulate him on his appointment and explain its members’ plight “where he also promised to brief his principal.”

“Having exhausted all means of getting our plight looked into by our Visitor – the Governor of Ondo State, His Excellency, Prince Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, the Leadership of JAC of Ondo State tertiary institutions by this letter is sending a notice of indefinite strike with effect from Monday, 26th February 2024 until the aforementioned concerns are attended to,” the unions said.