Ekiti University: Non-university unions write to management and threaten to strike over unpaid salaries

The non-academic unions at Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the institution's management for payment of their salaries.

Unions include the National Association of University Technologists (NAAT), the Union of Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) and the Association of Senior Staff of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

They met on Thursday and decided that management should accelerate the payment of at least one month's salary for the several months owed to them to help cushion the difficulties they are going through.

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Although members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are currently on strike, non-university unions are not.

Universities have maintained the “no work, no pay” rule for ASUU members, but EKSU has also been unable to pay other categories of workers who are not not on strike.

Recently, college retirees shouted that they were not on strike, but retired, wondering why management was withholding their pensions because of the ASUU strike.

The university's explanation was that workers' and retirees' salaries were treated together and that there was a freeze on ASUU payment, this had an effect on retiree payments.

However, non-academic unions said they discussed at length the non-payment of salaries to union members despite their regularity at work and dedication to tasks.

ALSO READ: Ekiti University ASUU denies resumption request as school enrolls new students

In a statement signed by T.A. Aguda (President of SSANU); O.M. Adeosun (President of NAAT) and S. K. Olajutemu, (President of NASU) issued after the meeting and which was obtained by our correspondent, the unions found that their members could no longer bear the untold hardship caused by the non-payment of wages.

"Following the above, the Joint Action Committee directed management, in the interest of the system, to put in place all mechanisms to alleviate the avoidable pain suffered by the members of the three unions by the payment of at least, one month's (gross) wages from previous wages due to union members before the close of business on Friday, October 7, 2022,” the statement read in part.

"This is for the information and immediate action of the Vice-Chancellor as we may no longer be able to guarantee continued industrial harmony in the university."

It has been found that EKSU owes its employees approximately N11 billion in back wages, pensions and gratuities, tax deductions, unpaid cooperative deductions and annual salary increases.

Management had urged the ASUU-EKSU branch to break off the ongoing strike and return to work despite its financial peculiarities, but the union had refused, saying it would not positively affect the fortunes of the university.< /p>

Meanwhile, EKSU Chief Information and General Affairs Officer Bode Olofinmuagun said the case was "a family matter that will be resolved".

“All I can say is that there is no cause for alarm,” he added.

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