… Laments 124 months of unpaid hazard allowance, 54 months of wage arrears

… Says retirees have yet to receive a pension since 2008.

… Decries career stagnation at institution

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), South-West Zone, has appealed to the Ondo State Government and the management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), over mounting financial liabilities owed to workers, including 54 months of minimum wage arrears and other entitlements.

During its 80th Regular Zonal Executive Council Meeting held at the AAUA’s Nelson Mandela Hall, SSANU reeled out and lamented over the continued delay in the payment of arrears.

Among the outstanding payments listed by the union are 54 months of arrears from the 2019 minimum wage implementation, 11 months of arrears from the 25/35 per cent 2023 salary adjustment, and 124 months of hazard allowance arrears.

Also listed as outstanding by the association include promotional and incremental arrears dating back to 2023, excess workload allowances for 2015–2019, and July 2026 salary payments.

The SSANU-AAUA Chairman, Comrade Abiodun Olutayo Ogungbeni, further disclosed that the university owes about 37 months of third-party deductions to cooperative societies, two tranches owed to reabsorbed staff, as well as gratuities and pension entitlements for retired workers stretching from 2008 to date.

The union also demanded an overhaul of the institution’s senior staff career structure, describing the current framework as a bottleneck that has stifled career progression for qualified workers.

Ogungbeni pointed out that it is unprecedented that the university has no staff on the CONTISS 15 salary grade level despite having many qualified personnel for such positions.

He emphasized the achievements the union has recorded under his administration, including the successful implementation of the 65/70-year retirement age policy, the fight for payment of the N35,000 wage award, and the release of the withheld January 2017 subvention.

Ogungbeni noted that 143 members of staff recently benefited from a conversion exercise into various cadres, while 13 deputy registrars and five deputy bursars were appointed for the first time in the university’s history, achievements he attributed to the massive support and commitment of the union’s congress.

The National Vice President and Chairman of SSANU, South-West Zone, Dr. Abdussobur Salaam, called on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to personally intervene in the deepening financial crisis confronting the university.

Salaam emphasized that the financial challenges were not limited to SSANU members alone but affected all staff unions within the university community, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAT).

He urged members of the union to remain dedicated to their duties and contribute meaningfully to the development of the university, while also calling for stronger collaboration among all staff unions to advance both institutional growth and workers’ welfare.

Responding to the union’s demands, Vice-Chancellor Obamuyi assured that the university management would examine the issues raised and work towards finding lasting solutions to the challenges.

The event also featured an awards ceremony honoring distinguished individuals for their contributions to the university community and society at large.

Among those honored was a senior advocate of Nigeria and former attorney-general of Ondo State, Adekola Olawoye, who expressed surprise at the recognition, noting that his role in implementing the extension of retirement age for senior staff from 60 to 65 years was simply part of his official duties performed in 2018.

Also honored was the Chairman of the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Comrade Leke Adegbite, who pledged that journalists would continue to use their profession to correct societal ills and promote good governance.

Adegbite expressed optimism that the financial challenges confronting the university would be resolved while urging both the state government and the university management to sustain their support for education.