David Williams
Workers of the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), on Thursday staged a peaceful protest within the campus premises over what they described as the Federal Government’s failure to show an appreciable level of commitment to their longstanding demands.
The workers, who were visibly unhappy, chanted solidarity songs while some of them carried placards containing inscriptions highlighting their demands and agitations.
Addressing journalists, the Chairman of SSANU, EKSU Chapter, Comrade Azeez Aguda, confirmed that the protest was just to send a strong signal to the Federal Government that crisis looms if the necessary actions are not taken.
Aguda called on all stakeholders in the educational system to prevail on the Government to attend to their demands before they are pushed to declare full industrial action, which he said would further affect the already struggling education system of the country.
He said: “You will recall that the struggle of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU between 2021 and 2022 led to a signed agreement between the JAC of the two Unions and the Federal Government on 20th August, 2022.
“It is disheartening to inform you that the issues that led to the strike action foisted on our members by Government from 27th March to 24th August, 2022, which culminated in the agreement signed in August 2022, are still staring us in the face, yet to be resolved, raising other developmental issues.”
He listed the issues in contention to include:
- Renegotiation of the 2009 FGN and NASU/SSANU Agreements
- Non-payment of 25/35% Salary Increments
- Unjust Disbursement of N50 Billion Earned Allowances
- Non-payment of Outstanding Withheld Salaries
- Non-payment of 3rd Party Deductions of the two months’ salaries (May & June 2022)
On his part, the NASU Chairman, EKSU branch, Sunday Olajutemu, explained that the Union had consistently engaged government on all the highlighted issues but said, “While we acknowledge the recent steps by the Federal Ministry of Education towards de-escalating the issues, we are not convinced that the efforts are sufficient to resolve the issues.
“While we had earlier resolved to embark on a strike action, the recent steps by the Ministry have caused us to review our position by instead embarking on this peaceful national protest. It is our hope that this protest drives home our demands without giving us reason to proceed on more drastic and extreme measures.”
