Ekiti university workers ground campus in protest over non remittance of deductions

Teaching and Non-teaching staff of Ekiti State University (EKSU) on Monday protested the non remittance of their 11 months’ deduction to cooperative societies.

The workers paralysed all activities within the and outside the university campus as early as 8am with placards bearing various inscriptions while moving round the campus,

While addressing journalists, the President of Academic Staff Union of University cooperative society, Prof. Awe Ariyo alleged that deductions to the tune of N1.8 billion was not remitted to the cooperative societies’ account making it difficult for staff to access loans.

Ariyo alleged the management of the institution has no regard for workers’ welfare, saying life has been difficult in the last three years.

He said: “They have turned us to a pauper. And all our colleagues that are not doing the cooperative collect full salary. Is it a sin to be frugal and put something aside to build a house, pay children school fees and buy a car?

“The problem we are having is that they are pretending to the government of paying full salary. “Government gives them N260 million subventions whereas the wage bill is over N500 million. Instead of giving the true picture of how the wage bill rose to that level but they are pretending as if they are paying full salary.

“The Governing Council decided to have a meeting with us but if the proposal is not acceptable, we would move en masse to the Government House to express our grievances.”

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Supporting the claims of the Chairman, the Secretary of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, Mr. Aguda Azeez alleged the institution Governing Council under the chairmanship of Prof. Bamitale Omole has derailed from its responsibility in ensuring effectiveness and efficiency in university’s administration.

He said: “The Omole-led Governing Council has been the most unproductive council we have ever had in this university.

“They have failed to look into the institution’s precarious financial situation but embarked on indiscriminate spending to their end.

“Fayemi should cross-examine activities of the council since they have been inaugurated whether it has been productive or otherwise.

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