Ondo, varsity unions reach agreement over wage dispute – Gov’s aide

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The Ondo State Government and tertiary institution unions have reached an agreement on the implementation of the new Federal Government and university unions’ wage structure and allowances.

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This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan.

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The agreement followed a series of meetings between officials of the state government, led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the leadership of labour unions in state-owned universities.

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According to the statement, the unions involved in the meeting included the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, National Association of Academic Technologists, and Non-Academic Staff Union.

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The News Agency of Nigeria reports that academic and non-academic unions in the three Ondo State-owned universities are currently on a total and indefinite strike over unpaid allowances to members.

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The statement said the meeting addressed outstanding issues relating to salary adjustments, allowances and other welfare matters affecting workers in the state-owned universities.

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It added that a major resolution was the approval by Aiyedatiwa for the full domestication of the Federal Government-ASUU agreement on the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure for academic staff of state-owned universities.

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According to the statement, implementation of the resolution will take into account the peculiarities of the state.

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It said that during the meeting, Aiyedatiwa described education as a cardinal priority of his administration, with a promise to the unions of his commitment to sustain industrial harmony in the state’s tertiary institutions.

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“Our administration will continue to prioritise the welfare of workers, especially in the education sector, because we understand that a motivated workforce is key to academic excellence.

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“We have approved the FGN-ASUU pact for our universities because we want our institutions to compete favourably and our staff to be at par with their counterparts elsewhere,” the statement read.

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It said that the government would continue to engage stakeholders to ensure that the state’s tertiary institutions remained centres of excellence without incessant industrial action.

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According to the statement, the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, chapter of ASUU, while speaking on behalf of the unions, commended Aiyedatiwa for approving the FGN-ASUU agreement for the state universities.

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