OAU Workers Barricade Gate, Embark on one week warning Strike

By John, Beloved

Movements inside and around the Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife have been disturbed since Monday as the Non academic staff Union in the institution began a five warning strike alongside a protest.

The members of the Non academic staff union and Senior staff association of Nigeria are unpleased with the recalcitrance of the varsity management towards the reinstatement of the association on the university payroll.

They expressed displeasure over the failure of the federal   government to implement the 2009 agreement on the payment of the non  teaching staffs earned allowances and the implementation of  the National industrial court order.

However, They urged the university management to respect the rule of law and reinstate the senior staff association of Nigeria.

According to the SSANU chairman, Ademola Oketunde, The Union would extend the strike if needed actions are not taken by the federal government with regards to their demand.
"We are on this protest for three reasons, the federal government signed an agreement with us in 2009 and up till now it has not actualise the implementation of the earned allowances.

We are demanding for the payment of at least 30millions to the Non teaching staffs of all Nigeria universities.
The management should fully reinstate and pay the staff school teacher. Salaries to the teachers stopped after they were removed from the payroll in 2015."

Some of the inscriptions on the placards held by the Protestants reads: "Federal government of Nigeria, implement court order on staff school; reinstate staff school teachers as directed  by the court; Federal  government, call OAU VC to order; Allow the rule of law to prevail, reinstate staff school teachers."

Mrs seun Olagunju, OAU staff school teachers rep, however questions the credibility of federal government,  accusing the government of secretly backing up OAU management.
   "Why is OAU the only  university out of all other institutions that have refused to obey, they will tell you they don't have money but when they employ people within two month, they will pay them in millions, we have children to cater for.
Last year one of our member died and they were still not moved. They are insisting in a trial through attrition". She said.


Moreso, the unions called for the provision of conducive learning environment and adequate accommodation for students. They however threatened to elongate the strike if this warning is not taken.