As the strike action declared by workers in the employ of Osun entered its second day on Thursday, lecturers in the state-owned tertiary institutions, on Thursday said arrangements have been concluded to embark on indefinite industrial action by January 15th, 2018 to register their grievances against the payment of modulated salary by Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration.
The lecturers, under the auspices of Council of Academic Staff Unions of Osun State Owned Tertiary Institutions (CASUOSTI) maintained that a 21-day ultimatum issued to the state government on November 7, 2017 had lapsed, stressing that and more than a month after the expiration of the ultimatum, their demands have not been acceded to
In a statement endorsed by CASUOSTI chairman, Comrade Olusegun Lana and his secretary, Comrade Sikiru Folorunso, copies of which were made available to journalists in Osogbo, the body disclosed that the indefinite strike by the lecturers was billed to commence in January 15th, 2018?
Academic staff and memebrs of CASUOSTI, who will down tools are from the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree (OSPOLY) the Osun State College of Technology , Esa Oke and the Colleges of Education in Ilesa and Ila Orangun.
According to the statement, “This is to inform all members of our great unions that consequent upon the concurrent resolutions of the respective Congresses of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (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
“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“Others are: withdrawn statutory benefits, namely financial effects of 2014 promotions and migration of lower cadres; pay cut through arbitrary stoppage internally sourced portions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 re-designation 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,” the statement concluded.
