The Non-academic union in Ekiti state university have threatened to go on strike if their salaries are not paid within 24 hours.
Recall that the non-academic Staff union had threatened to embark on another strike after the federal government failed to pay their salaries as promised after they called off their strike. Still on withheld salaries, the the non-academic unions in Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, have issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the institution’s management saying that if their salaries were not paid within the said time they would go on strike. The unions include the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). The unions met on Thursday and agreed that the management should hasten up on the payment of, at least, one month salary for the several months owed them to help cushion the hardship they are going through.
The universities have maintained the no-work-no -pay rule for ASUU members, but EKSU has also not been able to pay other categories of workers who are not on strike. However, the non academic unions said they discussed extensively on the non-payment of salaries to members of the unions despite their regularity at work and dedication to duties. In a communique signed by T.A. Aguda (SSANU Chairman); O.M. Adeosun (NAAT Chairman) and S. K. Olajutemu, (NASU Chairman) issued at the end of the meeting and which was obtained by our correspondent, the unions observed that their members could no longer bear the untold hardship caused by the non-payment of salaries. “Sequel to the above, the Joint Action Committee enjoined the management for the interest of the system, to put all machinery in place to alleviate the avoidable pains being experienced by members of the three unions by the payment of, at least, a month (gross) salary from previous salaries owed members of the unions before the close of work on Friday, 7th October 2022,” the communique partly read. “This is for the information and immediate action of the Vice Chancellor as we may not, henceforth, be able to guarantee continuous industrial harmony in the university.” According to reports, EKSU owes its employees about N11 billion in arrears of salaries, pensions and gratuities, tax deductions, unremitted deductions for cooperatives and annual salary increments.