OAUSTECH pays minimum wage, averts disruption of convocation

The Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, has averted disruption of it’s third convocation ceremony scheduled for Tuesday by payment of the new minimum wage.

Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, OAUSTECH’s Vice Chancellor told newsmen, on Monday in Okitipupa, that the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage has been approved by the university, and took effect from February

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the second Convocation Ceremony of the institution was almost marred by protesting members of the Joint Action Congress (JAC).

The protesters, who carried placards with different inscriptions demanding payment of the new minimum wage, sang solidarity songs when the visitor of the institution, Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, was addressing the audience.

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The protest led by Mr. Adedayo Temola, JAC Chairman, demanded the implementation, payment of outstanding arrears of N30,000 minimum wage, payment of wage award and increased monthly subvention of the nstitution.

NAN reports that President Bola Tinubu approved the payment of N35,000 wage award in 2024 in order to cushion the economic effects on workers over the removal of fuel subsidy on May 29, 2023.

Ologunorisa said that the action was to boost staff morale after months of agitation by the university’s workers for the implementation of the minimum wage.

“The implementation of the new minimum wage and payment of outstanding arrears is expected to improve the standard of living of staff, who have been struggling to make ends meet amidst the current economic challenges.,” the VC said.

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Meanwhile, some of the institution’s workers who spoke to NAN commended the gesture, saying it would improve staff welfare and boost their morale.

Some of the staff also complained that the minimum wage payment was controversial as an undisclosed amount was paid across board, which was not supposed to be.

Mr. Oluwaseyi Akeremale, a staff member, expressed his enthusiasm, saying that he was really happy that the annual increment and promotion arrears had been paid and that the new minimum wage was being implemented.

Also, Mr Davies Bobola, Chairman, National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) also commended the Vice-Chancellor’s efforts and commitment to staff welfare.

Dr. Rotimi Olorunisola, Chairman Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), OAUSTECH chapter, also praised Ologunorisa saying the payment was a welcome development.

“We hail and thank our VC for the payment but the payment is controversial because certain amount was paid across board, but I will have to visit the bursary to verify the template used for the payment,” Olorunisola said.

Also the JAC Chairman and Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Temola Temidayo also commended the Vice-Chancellor’s efforts for his proactiveness on the payment.

“We must commend the VC for his proactiveness because last year, we had to protest at the convocation ceremony because we were deprived of the N3O,000 wage award.

“Although the state government has paid five months wage award, but it is still owing us one month. We appreciate the VC’s commitment to staff welfare.

“The new minimum wage payment for university workers is different to core civil servants because we are on University Salary Structure template upscale from N30,000 to N70,000, so the payment is not N70,000 per se,” Temola said.

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Mr. Ganiyu Amimu, the institution’s Bursar who also corroborated Temola assertion said that the salary structure of university workers was quite different to that of core civil servants.

He added that the payment for each worker was based on template used to pay and the payment differ from one staff to the other depending on grade level.

“What I can only tell you is that we have implemented the new minimum wage and the payment began from February this year.

“Anyone who has issues with their payment should visit the bursary to clarify the scale of payment to understsnd what he got,” Amimu said.