Kwara varsity says workers not earning below minimum wage

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The management of Kwara State University, Malete, has dismissed allegations that some of its workers earn below the national minimum wage, saying the individuals referenced in the report are not employees of the institution.

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The university said all its staff receive salaries comparable to those paid in federal universities.

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The reaction followed an online report claiming that some workers at the institution were earning between N30,000 and N37,000 monthly despite Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s advocacy for a N100,000 national minimum wage.

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The report quoted some hostel porters as alleging that they had yet to benefit from the implementation of the current N70,000 minimum wage, while also complaining about poor conditions of service, lack of job security and the absence of pension benefits.

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Reacting in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of University Relations, Prof. Saeedat Aliyu, the university described the report as misleading.

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“The attention of the management of Kwara State University, Malete, has been drawn to an online publication which alleged that KWASU staff are not receiving the minimum wage from the Kwara State Government.”

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“All staff of Kwara State University, Malete, teaching, non-teaching or technology staff, are paid salaries commensurate with what other university staff receive in any federal university in Nigeria,” the statement read.

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The university said the individuals featured in the report were part-time workers engaged by owners of privately developed student hostels in and around the university community.

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“The personnel referred to in the publication are not staff of the university, but workers engaged on a part-time basis to oversee student hostels built by private individuals in and around the university.”

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“This category of workers is not Kwara State University staff and is not bound to the institution,” the statement added.

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The university also faulted the report’s suggestion that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s call for a higher national minimum wage was a publicity stunt.

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“The claim of the online outlet, which accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of a supposed publicity stunt over the payment of N100,000 minimum wage, is spurious and undeserving of any media house which is expected to do its due findings before making unfounded allegations,” the statement added.

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KWASU further commended the state government for what it described as sustained support to the institution, saying the assistance had contributed to its academic and research growth.

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It urged members of the public to disregard the publication, insisting that the allegations lacked merit.

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