Lecturers in Osun State government owned tertiary institutions are set to begin a state-wide strike from January 15, 2018.
This is coming barely 24 hours after the Osun State workers embarked on indefinite strike in protest against modulated salaries.
The lecturers, operating under the aegis of the Council of Academic Staff Unions of Osun State Owned Tertiary Institutions revealed this in a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr. Olusegun Lana and Secretary Sikiru Folorunso and made available to newsmen on Thursday.
The affected institutions are the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree; Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke as well as the Colleges of Education, in Ilesa and Ila-Orangun.
These lecturers said that apart from half salary which they had been placed on for the past 27 months by government, they were compelled to go on the strike to protest outrageous tax, unfulfilled agreement on staffing of the schools; selective reinstatement of sacked workers and contributory pensions issues.
They also claimed that they had given the Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola a 21-day ultimatum on November 7, but more than a month after the expiration of the ultimatum, he has failed to address the issues raised.
The academics added that they had written series of appeal letters and called for a dialogue but the governor had not responded in any way.
“This is to inform all members of our great unions that consequent upon the concurrent resolutions of the respective Congresses of ASUP and COEASU across the four State-owned tertiary institutions, we have issued a notice of indefinite strike action with effect from 15th January 2018,” the statement said.
“Government has not shown any seriousness towards addressing our painful plight as we have been subjected to untold hardship, frustrations and unprecedented levels of demoralization by the harsh effects of unaddressed festering issues including, but not limited to, perpetual half salaries (now up to 27 months) which our unions were never in agreement to; unfulfilled collective agreements on staffing and proper composition of governing councils; selective justice in the reinstatement of disengaged members of staff.
“Others are: withdrawn statutory benefits, namely financial effects of 2014 promotions and migration of lower cadres; pay cut through arbitrary stoppage internally sourced portions of salary, namely peculiar earned academic, hazard and medical allowances; high tax; obnoxious rank redesignation and promotion criteria; stagnation in career progression through lack of promotion; and injuriously administered contributory pension scheme just to mention a few.
“We have shown a great sense of endurance and concern for our esteemed students in whose interest this notice of strike action is even made unnecessarily long with the hope that government would do the needful without further delay.
“However, in the unexpected event that the issues remain unresolved till 15th January 2018, all members of academic staffs of the four state-owned tertiary institutions shall cease work to press home our demand for justice and fairness.”
