By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, is on the verge of starting an indefinite strike due to unpaid salaries and unmet demands.
This development comes with the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, which started in August for the same reason.
SSANU members haven’t received their salaries since July, with over two months’ pay owed.
The union is demanding payment of 54 months’ arrears from 2019, 18 months’ arrears of 25%/35% salary increment, and promotion arrears for 2022, 2023, and 2024.
The current subvention is inadequate, making it difficult to implement the 2024 National Minimum Wage for University workers.
Olutayo Ogungbeni, Chairman of the Joint Action Committee at AAUA, said, “The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities of AAUA may commence industrial action if all outstanding salaries are not paid. The last salary collected was in July, and now we are in October.” He expressed frustration that staff have been patient for too long and accused the state government of neglecting the University.
In response, Commissioner for Education Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun assured that the government is working to resolve the issue. He said, “We are working on it; the matter would soon be resolved.”
