TheCable

Academic activities were grounded on Thursday at the Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU) in Akungba Akoko, Ondo state, after a protest by members of staff over non-payment of the federal government palliative wage award.

The staff unions, under the joint action committee (JAC), said they were excluded from the ₦35,000 palliative wage award approved by the federal government to cushion the effects of the removal of petrol subsidy.

The JAC represents the interests of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

Tayo Ogungbeni, chairman of the JAC who doubles as the AAU’s SSANU leader, said the protest was to appeal to the state government to extend the payment to them like their colleagues in other states.

“The federal government announced a palliative wage award of ₦35,000 for all workers in Nigeria. We are part of the general workforce. Why is Ondo state excluding us?” he asked.

“The information we are hearing on why they are not paying us is that they claimed that the tertiary institutions are autonomous.

“But talking about autonomy, there is no total autonomy when it comes to universities.

“The federal universities are paid. We used the same payment method. I see no reason why we should not be paid.”

Ogungbeni said the state government needs to increase the subvention given to AAU.

He said the entitlement of all re-absorbed staff and the retirement benefits should also be paid.

Adebisi Adaramola, the university’s deputy vice-chancellor, said AAU is making efforts to ensure the state government pays.

“We understand some workers have been paid in Ondo state. But the staff of the university have not received theirs,” the DVC added.