13 Months Unpaid Salaries: Ondo Poly Suspends Union Activities Over Planned Indefinite Strike
Friday Omosola
Ondo State-owned Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo (RUGIPO), has suspended the activities of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) and the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) following the Unions resolve to commence their earlier suspended industrial action due to unpaid salaries.
SSANIP, had in a letter dated 4th January, 2022 and addressed to the Polytechnic Rector, Mr. Gani Ogundahunsi, said “the congress-in-session resolves to resume the indefinite strike action suspended on Monday 8th November, 2021”
Though SSANIP said it has unanimously decided at its congress to deduct two percent as monthly due from membersʼ salary to the coffer of the union, but its members are languishing in acute pain over 13 months and 35% of salary arrears owed.
The letter, which was signed by the association’s Chairman and Secretary, Comrade Olowolade Chris and Comrade Ojo Akinyemi, respectively, obliged the State Government and the RUGIPO management to consider the grouses of the union and do the needful.
But the management, in a circular dated same 4th of January, 2022, with Ref no AD/130/VOL/XIII/437, suspended the union for “calling out its members to withdraw their services to the institution until further notice”
In the circular signed by the Institution’s Registrar, Atiku Sule, the management said a meeting was held with the leadership of SSANIP and NASU on Monday, 3rd of January, 2022 over issues bordering on workersʼ welfare particularly salary arrears being owed and subvention arrears recently approved and released by the State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to the Institution.
The circular further said it was resolved at the said meeting that the released subvention fund be paid as follows: “35% balance for the month of January, 2021; 100% for the month of February, 2021; 100% for the month of March. 2021.
“And that the balances of 50% for June and 50% for July, 2021 as canvassed by the Unions be used to pay whatever percentage amount of the December, 2016 salary arrears as soon as the receives it.
“This position of the Unions, is however, subject to the approval of Government that it be used in the defrayment of same.
The management of the institution wondered why the unions would still embark on strike despite the Monday’s meeting and said, “activities of the union are hereby suspended forthwith” because the “development which constitutes an obvious threat to the peaceful and smooth-running of the Institution.
Read More: Ondo Governor Assures Workers Of Better Days
“Coupled with the fact that it could lead to the disruption of the academic activities of the second semester in the 2020/2021 Academic Session” and jeopardize the ongoing admission process of fresh students given the time frame of 30th January, 2022 for closure of admission portal by JAMB, as well as accreditation exercise billed to start on Monday 10th January, 2022″, it said.
In another development, a source hinted The Trumpet that workers may converge at the main entrance of the school today (Wednesday) to protest against the suspension of both SSANIP and NASU.
The source, who preferred anonymity said the banning has broken the fragile peace of the Polytechnic Community, warning that the workers won’t renege on their vow to protest what the source described as “deprivation of joy”
When contacted for comments via a telephone, the SSANIP Chairman, Comrade Chris Olowolade said the institution is owing them salary arrears over 13 months and still saying the union cannot embark on strike instead they should keep on coming to work.
“They have suspended the union activities and the next line of their action is that they will suspend the union leaders and those that are supporting the stand of the union, and witch hunting of key members of the Institution, which they have been doing since the inception of their administration. How can staff be coming to office when you owe them salary and you are still blaming them”
However, Olowolade disclosed that if the management wants the workers to resume, the suspension must be lifted first, adding that the management and the Union should come to a round table.
He said: “Let us discuss how we are going to get the salary arrears, let them pay what they have because Mr. Governor is magnanimous to have released the subvention.”
Read the circulars below:
