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UI workers down tools
Workers at the national headquarters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) may have concluded arrangement to have it tough with the management over alleged salary arrears if feelers are anything to go by.
The development comes on the heels of yesterday’s resumption of office by President Muhammadu Buhari after more than 50-day medical vacation in the United Kingdom. Sources said the financial paucity might not be unconnected with the recession in the country worsened by dwindling oil receipts.
Findings indicated that the workers were being owed February and part of December 2016 salaries.
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Efforts to reach the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, for comments were futile, as he was to be out of Abuja. But a senior official who craved anonymity, however, denied the claims.
Besides, the University of Benin (UNIBEN) branch of the Academic Staff Union of the (ASUU) threatened a work-to-rule action over the alleged non-payment of full salary for the month of February to its members.
It was gathered that the union had at the end of its last congress issued a one-week ultimatum in this respect. The warning elapsed last Friday.
Reacting to the development, the Public Relations Officer, Michael Osasuyi, said activities were going on uninterrupted at the institution, adding that the Prof. Faraday Orumwense-led administration was committed to improving staff welfare.
Also yesterday, non-academic activities were grounded at the University of Ibadan as workers of the institution began a one-week warning strike to force the management to accede to their demands.
The affected unions, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU); National Association of Academic Technicians (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), are protesting against alleged illegal deductions of pensions and shortfall in their emoluments.
The chapter ASUU chairman, Dr. Deji Omole, urged members to endure the hardship, adding that the request to embark on same action was being considered by the union’s national headquarters.
