The ASUU EKSU has raised alarm over irregularities and unfair treatment of the union, in a press release by the union, she expressed her grievances on state of union,below is the detailed press release;
TEXT OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE HELD AT EKITI STATE UNIVERSITY, ADO - EKITI (EKSU), BY EKSU BRANCH OF ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF UNIVERSITIES (ASUU), ON WEDNESDAY, 14TH APRIL, 2021
Gentlemen of the Press,
Rising from a Special Congress meeting of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU-EKSU) held at the Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, (EKSU) on Wednesday, 7th April, 2021, where the four weeks ultimatum earlier issued on EKSU Administration concerning its apathy and nonchalant attitude towards the welfare of our members was reviewed, the Union resolved to activate its mandate to embark on an indefinite industrial action, if nothing is done at the expiration of the deadline given.
The grounds upon which we have resolved to embark on the strike are as follow:
Absolute and Unprecedented Neglect of the University by Ekiti State Government:
But for the various interventions of Federal Government, occasioned by consistent ASUU struggles, our EKSU by now would have either been closed down or mortgaged to private investors. How can one explain that the University is State owned, yet, it cannot boast of any singular infrastructural facility put in place by the current State Government, since its inception in 2018? Ironically, the popular commentary by all visitors to this citadel of knowledge of ours is usually a deriding name “The University of Tetfund and NEEDS Assessment, Ado-Ekiti”.
As at today, Ekiti State Government is only subventing EKSU by 50% of its monthly wage bills, without paying any considerable attention to capital grants and infrastructural developments. This has led EKSU Administration to ingloriously indulge in financial infractions, such as:
i. Subversion of Tax Deductions to paying salaries
ii. Diversion of Pension deductions to paying salaries
iii. Fund diversion from various units of the University (Health Centre, ICT, Faculties and Directorates).
By this, all these Units are left in absolute neglect and disarray.
Despite various appeals made to eminent personalities in the State to help call the attention of Government to the survival of the University, it appears the current Governor of the State has defiantly made up his mind to punish EKSU to its grave. Ordinarily, it should not take the “brilliant and performing Governor” 3 years to defray the 5 months arrears of subventions being owed the University, when in actual fact, he had promised to do so within the first six months of assumption of office.
Humongous Arrears of Outstanding Salaries and Emoluments
It is important to state herein that as at today, our workers are being owed the followings:
i. 3 months arrears of salaries for the months of July, August and September, 2018
ii. 6 years arrears of Earned Academic Allowances
iii. 26 months unremitted pension deductions
iv. 14 months arrears of half salaries
Despite all efforts and sacrifices by our members at ensuring that the University does not suffer academic calendar disruption: reason why we had kept faith with the current Government, Council and EKSU Administration for 3 years running, the key players in the affairs of the University had decided to take us for granted. Even when our members were dying in instalments.
Lack of Respect for Collective Bargaining by Government, Council and EKSU Administration
It would interest the entire public and all stakeholders in the EKSU project to note that, our Union, in the spirit of collective bargaining, had met with critical stakeholders in the University and Ekiti State more than Seventeen times since the inauguration of the current Administration. These meetings include, but not limited to:
i. 6th May, 2019:Audience with Council Chairman
ii. 9th June, 2019:Audience with University Administration on our
predicaments
iii. 11th September, 2019:Audience with University Administration on our
predicaments
iv. 13th September, 2019:Audience with University Administration on our
predicaments
v. 19th November, 2019:Akure Zone intervention meeting with University
Administration
vi. 21st January, 2020:Audience with Ekiti State Government
vii. 4th June 2020:Akure Zone intervention meeting with Ekiti State
Government
viii. 19th June, 2020:Audience with Ekiti State Government
ix. 26th August, 2020:Denied access to have audience with the wife of Executive
Governor of the State
x. 29th October, 2020:Denied Access to have audience with Ekiti State
Government
xi. 15th November, 2020: Letter of notification sent to Ekiti State House of Assembly
on the need for an urgent intervention on the brewing industrial disharmony
xii. 18th and 19th November, 2020: Meeting and interactions with Ekiti State House of
Assembly; having University Administration and representatives of University Council in attendance
xiii. 20th November, 2020:Communique issued by Ekiti State House of Assembly on
the truce reached with our Union on the need not to commence local action after suspension of the then National Industrial action.
xiv. 1st December, 2020:Meeting with Chairman of Council on our predicaments
xv. 24th December, 2020:Communication with the Council Chairman on our
predicaments and promised made by government
xvi. 24th December, 2020:Communication to University Administration on National
Directive to press home our demands using all legitimate means.
xvii. 22nd March, 2021:Issuance of 4 weeks ultimatum to Administration arising
from Congress resolution
xviii. 9th April, 2021:Communication of Congress resolutions to Administration
and all stakeholders in Ekiti State, including the Chancellor of the University.
Worthy of specific mentioning is the fact that, Ekiti State House of Assembly mediated between Government, Council, EKSU Administration and our Union between 16th and 20th November, 2020, with a view to ensuring we resumed at the expiration of the then National struggle. Unfortunately, none of the agreements signed was respected.
Why should we justifiably continue to trust a Government that could not honour its own agreements, signed on its behalf by the State House of Assembly with the Union?
Despite all efforts by our Union to embrace the spirit of collective bargaining, neither the Governor, University Council nor EKSU Administration deemed it fit to see to how our plights could be bettered and ameliorated. Rather, it has been unkept promises, continuously and unendingly running for 3 years, as if the education of our citizens is of no priority to them.
Conclusion
Therefore, our Union concluded that, EKSU is presently caught in the web of suffocating socio-economic and infrastructural neglect challenges, which should urgently be addressed. ASUU-EKSU therefore calls on all stakeholders in the State to passionately appeal to all concerned in the EKSU project, in order to save it from total collapse. This required action would be in the interest of children of the ordinary Nigerians, whose parents are paying through their noses to educate.
Our Resolution
Having comprehensively reviewed all outstanding issues, most especially as they affect welfare of our members and proper funding of the University, as well as the pussy-footing attitude of Government and its attitude of unhonourable failed promises spanning over 3 years, the Executive of our Union aligns itself with the decision of ASUU-EKSU Congress to process and prosecute an indefinite strike at the expiration of the 4 weeks ultimatum issued to force Government, Council and Administration to live up to their responsibilities.
Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta!!!
Comrade K. K. Arogundade (Chairperson, ASUU-EKSU)………………………………
Comrade O. D. Ogunwale (Secretary, ASUU-EKSU)………………………………