OAUSTECH unions join Ondo varsities 14-day strike

Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH) labour unions have joined the Ondo State Tertiary Institution’s (ODSTI) 14 days warning strike declared by ODSTI Joint Action Congress (JAC).

The unions are: Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

Mr Bobola Bamigbola, the Chairman of JAC, OAUSTECH’s chapter, disclosed this to our correspondent on Monday in Okitipupa.

Bamigbola said that since OAUSTECH was part of the state-owned institution, it has complied with the instruction of the state body.

“I can confirm to you that SSANU, NASU and NAAT have complied with the instruction of the state body and joined the state-wide strike action.

“No staff of all these unions is on campus right now as I speak to you, except members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) who didn’t join us,”Bamigbola said.

Our correspondent recalls that ODSTI JAC on June 20 declared a 14-day warning strike across all the state-owned institutions urging SSANU, NASU, NAAT and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnic (SSANP) to embark on the strike.

The state-owned institutions are OAUSTECH, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo.

The ODSTI grievances with the state government were poor and inadequate funding of institutions, and inability to pay the national minimum wage.

Others are nonpayment of the wage award arrears and failure to pay the gratuities of retired members among others