OAUSTECH workers threaten strike over non-payment of wage award, subvention

Workers of the Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa, Ondo State, have threatened to embark on strike over unpaid minimum wage and wage award.

The workers are under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

Mr Temidayo Temola, the Chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the unions, who made the disclosure to NEWSVERGE on Friday in Okitipupa, also bemoaned the delay in the institution’s subvention.

NEWSVERGE reports that workers of institution had on February 27, 2024 embarked on a 15-day strike over non-implementation of minimum wage, unpaid wage award and delay in the institution’s subvention.

Temola told NEWSVERGE that the leadership of JAC had met severally with the government on the issues without success.

“Our agitation are payment of wage award of N35,000 to our members, implementation of minimum wage of 2019 and 100 percent increment in monthly subvention to our institution.

“After the meetings by JAC with government officials and interventions of stakeholders, based on the promises that the wage award will be paid in March led to the suspension of the two weeks industrial action on March 12.

“We later observed with disappointment that as of today, nothing has been done to pay the wage award as promised by the state government despite several assurances that it would be paid in March.

“We, the entire members of SSANU, NASU and NAAT can no longer withstand the present harsh economic situation which the failure to pay this wage award have subjected us to.

“In view of this latest development, the leadership of JAC once again reminded the state government of their commitment and assurance to pay our outstanding five tranches of wage award.

“We wish to state that failure to pay us our wage award as promised, will lead to industrial disharmony, as we shall not hesitate to resume the suspended industrial action within seven days of this notice,” Temola said.