Lecturers of Kwara tertiary institutions commend AbdulRazaq

Lecturers of all Kwara Government owned tertiary institutions have commended Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for addressing their welfare.

This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Rafiu Ajakaye, the Chief Press Secretary to the governor in Ilorin.

Ajakaye said that the lecturers were satisfied with their welfare, as it had improved tremendously under the present administration of AbdulRazaq, adding that they sre proud of their decision to have supported him in 2019.

He said the lecturers expressed their appreciation during a ‘thank you’ visit to the governor over the weekend.

“The Joint Academic Staff Union in Tertiary Institutions (JASUTI) commended the administration.

“They were happy as the Governor implemented the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS), which had been pending for several years,” Ajakaye said.

The spokesman said that the implemented CONPCASS was over due for Academic Staff of the Colleges of Education Ilorin, Oro, Lafiagi and College of Arabic, Islamic, Legal and Management Studies (CAILMS), Ilorin.

The state Chairman of JASUTI, Comrade Bilikis Olasehinde, thanked the governor on behalf of the academic staff of tertiary institutions in Kwara and her humble self.

“Your Excellency, we are here to show our appreciation for everything you have done for us.

“Sir, let me go back memory lane. When you came in as governor of Kwara, there were issues in the state tertiary institutions, like the owed salary arrears and we were on strike.

“Immediately you came in, we decided to suspend the strike and give the new government a benefit of doubt and we thank God for our decision, because you fulfilled your promise,” the state chairman said.

Olasehinde also praised the administration for restoring monthly subventions to the institutions, adding that the governor promised that they will be getting full salary as the era of percentage was over.

On the issue of accreditations across the tertiary institutions, the chairman also commended the governor for redeeming his promise.

Responding, AbdulRazaq explained that the previous administration totally neglected schools, saying they were not paying salaries, let alone fix school infrastructures.

“The first institution I visited was College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi, and I was totally disappointed.

“The state government abandoned its responsibilities over the years, but we are glad to have met your demands and willing to do more.

“It is glaring to everyone know that we are coming from a terrible era that no one should ever wish for again.

“The last administration could not even pay the N18,000 minimum wage, but now we are paying N30,000 minimum wage and even made sure that your salaries were paid while making your demands,” the governor said.

AbdulRazaq said his administration was determined to restore Kwara’s lost glory in education, with right investments in infrastructure, staff welfare and other support schemes.

“Kwara came to being the same time with Lagos and some other States. Today, Lagos have three state universities because they managed themselves very well.

“We thank God and the people that allowed us to stop the rots. We will make sure the right thing is done.

“Since we have put the issues of subvention and minimum wage behind us, our next step is to see how to upgrade facilities in our institutions and expand departments,” he said.

The governor said that everybody should put hands together and do the right thing to improve education and place it where it should be.

The statement said that the JASUTI leadership was accompanied by the state chairmen of NLC, TUC, Public Service Joint Negotiating Council, and the state Controller of Labour, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment.