… Lecturers demand arrears, immediate implementation of the agreement

…Insists bank alerts will determine suspension of industrial action

…Says lecturers quitting varsity amid welfare concerns

Lecturers under the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Ondo State, on Wednesday stated that the ongoing strike will not be suspended until the state government begins the implementation of the Federal Government-ASUU agreement and pays outstanding arrears dating back to January.

 

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa had a few days ago approved a 60 percent increase in monthly subvention to state-owned tertiary institutions and also gave the green light for the implementation of the Federal Government-ASUU agreement.

 

However, the union has maintained that the governor’s announcement, while welcome, does not automatically translate to an end to the industrial action, insisting that concrete financial steps must be taken before lecturers resume duty.

 

Prof. Boluwaji Oshodi, Chairman of ASUU, AAUA branch, disclosed this while speaking on the development and stated that the union’s position was guided by the directive from the national body.

 

“We will call off the strike when we receive an alert in our bank accounts. Alert of the implementation and the arrears starting from January, that is when we will suspend the strike,” Oshodi said.

 

The ASUU chairman further explained that the mandate from the national body required that implementation of the agreement should commence immediately, while arrears owed to workers from January should also be paid.

 

He stressed that the union’s interpretation of the word “immediate” in the government’s announcement was that the implementation must cover outstanding obligations dating back to the beginning of the year.

 

“The issue now is that the mandate from the national body is that the implementation should commence immediately and the arrears from January should be paid,” he said.

 

Oshodi also disclosed that some lecturers had left AAUA for other institutions, attributing the development to personal decisions driven by dissatisfaction with welfare and working conditions.

 

“Leaving the system is a personal decision. So, if some lecturers feel they are not getting the level of satisfaction they deserve in terms of welfare and other benefits, they can choose to move to another system.

 

“To some extent, that is true, because I know about three or four people who have moved to different universities.”