Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja
Lecturers at the Osun State Polytechnics and the state’s Colleges of Education on Thursday declared that they will embark on an indefinite strike as from 15 January, in protest against payment of half salaries by Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
Labour unions in the State are also on strike over which is described by the government as the ‘modulated salary system’ being implemented by the government.
The lecturers, under the aegis of the Council of Academic Staff Unions of Osun State Owned Tertiary Institutions, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Olusegun Lana and Secretary Sikiru Folorunso released in Osogbo on Thursday complained that they have been receiving half salary for the past 27 months.
Other complaints of the lecturers include imposition of high tax regime, unfulfilled agreement on staffing of the schools; selective reinstatement of sacked workers and contributory pensions issues among others.
The lecturers recalled that they had earlier given the governor a 21-day ultimatum on November 7 to address the issues.
But they regretted that more than a month after the expiration of the ultimatum no action has been taken on their complaints.
They also noted that the governor has failed to respond to series of appeal letters written to him on the issue.
The statement read, “This is to inform all members of our great unions that consequent upon the concurrent resolutions of the respective Congresses of ASUP and COEASU across the four State-owned tertiary institutions, we have issued a notice of indefinite strike action with effect from 15th January 2018
“Government has not shown any seriousness towards addressing our painful plight as we have been subjected to untold hardship, frustrations and unprecedented levels of demoralization by the harsh effects of unaddressed festering issues including, but not limited to, perpetual half salaries (now up to 27 months) which our Unions were never in agreement to; unfulfilled collective agreements on staffing and proper composition of Governing Councils; selective justice in the reinstatement of disengaged members of staff.
“Others are: withdrawn statutory benefits, namely financial effects of 2014 promotions and migration of lower cadres; pay cut through arbitrary stoppage internally sourced portions of salary, namely peculiar earned academic, hazard and medical allowances; high tax; obnoxious rank redesignation and promotion criteria; stagnation in career progression through lack of promotion; and injuriously administered contributory pension scheme just to mention a few.
“We have shown a great sense of endurance and concern for our esteemed students in whose interest this notice of strike action is even made unnecessarily long with the hope that Government would do the needful without further delay.
“However, in the unexpected event that the issues remain unresolved till 15th January 2018 all members of academic staffs of the four State-owned tertiary institutions shall cease work to press home our demand for justice and fairness.”
Institutions that would be involved in the strike include the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; the Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke as well as the Colleges of Education in Ilesa and Ila Orangun.