The Academic Staff Union of Universities, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, chapter said it would not hesitate to embark on an industrial action if the modulated payment of salaries of its members and cut in the monthly subvention continued.
ASUU lamented that the reduction in the subvention and modulated payment of salaries of its members in the last 15-months had grossly affected the running of academic activities in the university.
Addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti on Tuesday by its Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Kayode Arogundade and Dr. Daniel Ogunwale respectively, the Union said that some of the its members had died because they could not afford proper feeding due to unpaid salary occasioned by persistent cut in the university’s subvention from the state government.
ASUU decried under-funding of the state-owned institution, saying the situation has affected the university in the last few years to deliver on its mandate as well as compete favourably with other state-owned universities in the country.
It lamented that the members of staff had been placed on half salaries in the last 15-months in spite of the sack of 1, 172 workers in December 2019, thereby making life unbearable for workers.
The Union accused the visitor, Governor Kayode Fayemi of paying lip service to the issue of funding of EKSU, adding that the institution had continued to struggle to pay its wage bill totaling N452m with a monthly subvention of N260m.
“It is pathetic that the university does owe not less than 15 months of half salaries to its staff even after sacking over 1,172 workers in December 2019; many of whom are either dead or battling with different kinds of ailments.
“The government already also owes the University five (5) months subventions. Our several appeals for separate funding for the College of Medicine as a separate entity as it is the practice in other climes have fallen on deaf ears of the government,” it said.
ASUU alleged that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Edward Olafeso and the Chairman of the Governor Council, Prof. Bamitale Omole were running the universities like their personal fiefdom against the extant rules and regulations of the institution.
The Union called on Governor Fayemi to improve funding in the institution to enable it to meet its financial obligations including payment of 15-months half salary, three months outstanding salaries of July, August and September, 2018 as well as retirement benefits of retired members.
It warned that failure to oblige would propel the union to embark on industrial action, even if the national body calls off the lingering strike.
