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Tag: workers

  • LAUTECH hospital workers protest unpaid salaries

    LAUTECH hospital workers protest unpaid salaries

    The workers of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, at the weekend protested unpaid salary.

    They said they were last paid in January last year.

    The workers, who caused gridlock, carried placards with inscriptions, such as: “LAUTECH workers dying of hunger”, “Enough is enough since 2016”, “Ajimobi don’t wait for God’s wrath”, “Ajimobi please pay our salaries in full”, etc.

    Addressing reporters, the Secretary of Unions LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Lawal Abiodun, said the problem began in January last year, adding that it was borne out of the government’s stance that LAUTECH was an educational institution that could generate fund internally from students’ tuition fees.

    He said the unions made the government to understand that the students paid into the school’s coffers.

    Lawal said: “LAUTECH Teaching Hospital (LTH), Ogbomoso has been wrongly classified by the Oyo State government as one of the tertiary institutions that has students from whom the institution collects tuition fees. LTH does not collect fees from LAUTECH students, who use the hospital for their clinical training. They pay their fees to the university. Hence LTH Ogbomoso cannot generate revenue from the students.

    “As a result, the government since January last year has not paid the workers’ salaries, but subvention, which is not paid in full. This has made the institution to pay workers half salaries, making life difficult for them.

    “During our last visit to Health Commissioner Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, he said Governor Abiola Ajimobi agreed to pay our 100 per cent salaries and promised to raise a memo in that respect, but since, the memo has not been written.”

    He said LAUTECH hospital has lost consultants and nurses to other hospitals that are well-funded, adding that this is tantamount to imminent collapse of the hospital.

    Lawal said to save the hospital from collapse, workers’ full salaries must be paid.

    Efforts made last night to reach Dr. Adeduntan for his reaction were fruitless, as his lines were unreachable.

  • Workers threaten to shut down OML 42 operations

    Workers under the aegis of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), have threatened to shut down Neconde Energy Limited (NEL) for alleged breach of agreement. They accused the firm of not complying with the agreement to transfer 25 workers to Warri.

    Neconde, an indigenous oil and gas company, operates OML 42 in partnership with the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (NPDC), a subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

    PENGASSAN blocked the entrance to NEL offices on Victoria Island, Lagos, on Monday, and picketed the company’s offices in Lagos and Warri. It said actions would continue if the company did not accede to workers’ demands.

    Addressing the workers, who sealed the company’s corporate head office in Lagos over alleged violation of an agreement between the leadership of PENGASSAN and Neconde, the Lagos Zonal Chairman of PENGASAN, Abel Agarin, said the union had written several letters to the company to resolve the issues but to no avail.

    He stated: “Our demand is that we want a communiqué in place that will address the transfer issue of these 21 employees that are affected.” According to a communiqué issued by the union members in PENGASSAN Neconde branch, they alleged “forceful restructuring, alignment, harmonization of structure and condition of service and policies of NEL across other non- exploration and production subsidiaries of the Obijackson Group.”

    Neconde is one of the subsidiaries of Obijackson Group.

    As part of their grievances the union stated: “Unprocedural, immediate and forceful transfer (including pregnant women/nursing mothers) of Staff from Lagos to Warri; nonpayment of outstanding field allowance of staff from August 2016 till date. No evidence (Tax clearance certificate) of remittance of Employees’ tax (PAYE) to Lagos and Delta State Governments since 2012, to name a few.”

    NEL reaction Reacting to the allegations, NEL’s Corporate Communication Manager, Olusegun Micheal, said “We are currently in talks with the leadership of PENGASSAN to ensure that we reach a mutually beneficial agreement on some of the demands presented by the association. So far, management and the company have enjoyed their co-operation and hope that the association will continue to abide by best in class labour union practices by exploring negotiation and collaboration as labour relations tactics.”

  • Kogi sacks 200 varsity workers, ASUU alleges

    Kogi State University (KSU) in Anyigba, chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said about 200 of its members were screened out of service during the recent staff verification by the government.

    Its Chairman, Dr Daniel Aina, disclosed this while speaking to journalists in Lokoja, the state capital. He said the ongoing strike would only be suspended if all issues relating to arrears of salaries, 2015 employment, contract and sabbatical staff were resolved.

    The union also said government must resume the monthly instalmental payment of the 2009-2014 arrears of the Earned Academic Allowances (EAA). According to Aina, the KSU management must pay the outstanding balance before ASUU can call of the strike.

    The union, however, hailed the government for reconstituting the Governing Council of the university, saying the government must also address payment of salaries to all categories of its members.

    Aina said: “Payment of salary arrears of the KSU teaching staff is the pathway for the amicable resolution of all outstanding issues. This is because our salary arrears of February and March 2017 have been left out, while the government pays the employees of other tertiary institutions in  the state, who have been on strike.

    “Since 2014, the government has never paid the staff monthly salary in full. The university administration has had to augment the recurrent short falls from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Even this uncompleted salary has become erratic.

    “The government must be told that the propaganda on salary payment is a ruse because artisans, traders and the business environment of the state do not enjoy the patronage that naturally flourishes when workers are paid.

    “It is pathetic that economic activities have been seriously hampered in the state due to the non-payment of salaries occasioned by the long-drawn and tortuous staff screening exercises. Many parents whose children and wards have been at home since the strike started, are yet to be paid their salaries.

    “Till date, several of our members have not received salary since June 2016. All employees of Kogi State University have not received their February and March 2017 salaries. Neither the government nor the university administration has paid anyone.”

    Aina expressed concerns over the consistently deteriorating working conditions among the academic staff in the university, saying it had led to mass exodus of staff. ASUU also said there had been sharp reduction in funds released to the institution by government, regretting that infrastructure and staff development in the school were for the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

    The union also condemned the disruption of the protest by students and their arrests by security agents, saying the use of force would not yield any fruit.

  • Workers’ protest grounds varsity in Ekiti

    Workers’ protest grounds varsity in Ekiti

    •Union leaders suspended

    Workers of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) yesterday began an indefinite strike over alleged victimisation, intimidation and non-payment of hazard allowances.

    Under the auspices of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), they protested at the school gate and confronted policemen.

    The protesters heckled policemen, led by Oye Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Sadiku Afolabi, who warned them against blocking access road to the campus.

    The management suspended the union leaders for allegedly disrupting the Governing Council’s meeting last week.

    The workers accused management of not promoting those employed at the inception of the institution, while the newly-employed ones were promoted.

    NAAT Chairman Ekundayo Ajibaye demanded withdrawal of queries issued them and dissolution of panels allegedly set up to intimidate workers.

    He said: “We are fighting impunity and corruption is at its peak in FUOYE. We want the Federal Government to beam its searchlight here.”

    NASU Chairman Dada Adebayo said workers resorted to industrial action because management allegedly reneged on the agreement reached after the last crisis in January.

    SSANU Chairman Babafunso Awe accused management of being insensitive, saying they will not listen until their demands are met.

    He alleged that management refused to release workers’ cooperative funds.

    FUOYE spokesman Godfrey Bakji said the unions had no basis to go on strike because their leaders had been suspended.

    He debunked allegations of corruption, intimidation, victimisation and impunity, saying it is an attempt to blackmail the management.

    Bakji said: “The management has issued suspension letters to SSANU and NASU leaders for disrupting a meeting of the Governing Council.

    “The council directed that they be issued queries and they were given an opportunity to defend themselves, which they failed to take advantage of.

    “On promotion, those qualified were given letters last week.

    “The Act establishing the university does not give room for everybody to be promoted at once. There are processes to be followed.”

    He urged the workers to allow peace reign, saying they should return to their duty posts.

  • NSITF promises better package for workers

    The new management of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has pledged to introduce improved welfare packages that will boost staff productivity.

    The Head, Cooperate Affairs of NSITF, Aliu Zubairu, said the new Managing Director, Adebayo Somefun, gave the assurance when he assumed duties in Abuja.

    Somefun hinted that a review of the staff welfare package to keep them motivated was underway.

    The new helmsman, who spoke with the three new executive directors of the Fund at its corporate headquarters, assured the staff that the new management understood the essence of a motivated staff.

    He, therefore, assured that management would do everything within its powers to review their welfare packages, stressing that the team was fully prepared to move the organisation forward.

    The new executive directors are: Suleiman Tijani, Mrs. Kemi Nelson and Jasper Azuatalam.

    Thanking every member of staff for a wonderful job done, he stressed the need for teamwork, which was reflected in the resumption of management members simultaneously.

    Somefun urged the members of the staff to see the new management as a team that would take the organisation to the next level, while promising that the  team would not disappoint in ensuring that it left the Fund better than it met it.

    “I assure you that the new executive team has listening ears and our doors are always open for suggestions and ideas,” he said.

    Mrs Nelson said she had, in the past five years, sought an opportunity to be useful not only to herself, but to a lot of people, noting that her appointment was the answer to that prayer. She promised to give her best in ensuring she delivered on her new assignment.

    On his part, Tijani corroborated the position of the managing director, saying the new management would welcome ideas and suggestions and also needed collective efforts to move the Fund forward.

  • TUC: employers no longer adhere to pact with workers

    TUC: employers no longer adhere to pact with workers

    Organised labour has condemed some employers for what it called insincerity in handling some agreements reached with workers.

    Labour is worried the employers’ alleged failure to negotiate with workers before laying them off or withhold their benefits.

    Trade Union Congress (TUC) President Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama, noted that employers had turned to politicians, who could no longer be trusted to keep to agreements.

    Kaigama, who spoke with The Nation, said the development had become commonplace because of the prevailing recession, as employers now took advantage of workers at every opportunity.

    His words: “The fact that there is a little drop in profit margin is not an excuse to lay off committed workers. Between July 2015 and now, the senior staff of food and beverage union has lost thousands of workers to an already over-saturated labour market.

    “The food and beverage sector had millions of workers in its employ until recently when the issue of violation of collective agreement and redundancy, arising from forex problems, among others, became the order of the day. Employers of labour have become politicians and hardly adhere to agreements.”

    Kaigama lamented the atmosphere under which employers currently operate, stressing that no company spends less than half a billion naira to power its plants  monthly.

    He said with diesel now selling for between N250 and N300 per litre, depending on where its being bought, those that could not sustain their businesses have left the shores of the country with their products still flooding Nigerian markets.

    “At its peak, the textile sector provided direct jobs to close to half a million Nigerians and millions of indirect jobs. Sadly, over 90 per cent core investors have since gone into importation.

    “We will be glad if the government can do for the industry what it did for the power sector by making solid arrangement to sell gas to this industry at the same rate it is selling to the electricity distribution companies (DISCOS) since they both require this commodity for production,”he said.

    He said the footwear and leather industry is also combating the challenge of influx of fake tyres from China and fairly used ones. The development, according to him, poses great risk to the masses who are daily on the roads.

    Citing statistics from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Kaigama said a total of 4,005 deaths in 7,657 crashes were recorded at the end of week 47 of 2016, with fake tyres, contributing largely to it.

    Kaigama said the same evil that befell the textile, food and beverage, footwear and leather sectors have since befallen the pharmaceutical, chemical, aviation and iron and steel sectors, among others.

    “Reports have it that despite billions of naira so far spent on Aladja, Katsina and Ajaokuta they are yet to fully come on stream,” he said.

    The pulp and paper industries at Jebba, Iwopin and Oku-Iboku, he said, have all long been abandoned and forgotten despite several appeals to the government.

    Kaigama also called on the government to fully implement the National Automotive Policy initiative launched in 2016 through the Bank of Industry (BoI) to assist the middle class patronise local vehicle assembly plants.

    He said through this initiative, many auto plants would boost their sales, stabilise the market and create jobs, even in this period recession.

    The labour leader observed that the financial sector had also been hit by the economic lull, with the insurance and banking sectors not faring better.

  • FUTA workers hail minister for suspending VC, registrar

    FUTA workers hail minister for suspending VC, registrar

    The workers of Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) yesterday hailed the suspension of the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Adebiyi Daramola, by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.

    The VC and the Registrar, Mrs. Modupe Ajayi, were suspended.

    The Chairman of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the university and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), ýDele Durojaiye, confirmed the suspension.

    He, however, said details had not been received.

    Daramola and the Bursar, Emmanuel Oresegun, had been taken to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged mismanagement of the institution’s funds.

    They ýwere granted bail by the Akure High Court.

    The reason why the registrar was suspended and not the bursar ýwith the VC remained unclear yesterday.

    The registrar is the secretary of the university council and her five-year tenure will end on May 31.

    Spokesman for the university Adebanjo Adegbenro said he had no ýinformation that the two principal officers were suspended by the minister.

    Non-teaching staff unions of the university called off their seven- month strike on Tuesday.

    They went on strike to protest the refusal of the Federal Government to sack Prof. Daramola despite his case with the EFCC.

    The workers vowed not to call off the strike until he stepped aside to clear himself of the allegations.

    The leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUUý), FUTA chapter, insisted that the tenure of the vice chancellor had lapsedý.

    Durojaiye, acting on a verdict of the Industrial Court, recalled the workers to duty.

    He said the court had given an order that the striking workers should resume work within 24 hours.

    Durojaiye said the court ordered the university management to pay outstanding salaries within 24 hours, adding that those sacked should be reinstated.

    On the tenure of the vice chancellor, ASUU leadership said it ended on May 9.

  • Workers’ anger on May Day

    Workers’ anger on May Day

    A workers’protest marred the May Day celebration at the Eagle Square, Abuja on Monday. Their grouse was what they described as the government’s insensitivity to their plight, TOBA AGBOOLA and TONY AKOWE report.

    With the large turnout, last Monday’s Workers’ Day rally at the Eagle Square in Abuja was supposed to be the biggest and the best, but it turned out to be the worst May Day celebration in recent times.

    As early as 8:am, all the seats at the venue were filled with many people hanging on the wall and looking for where to stand.

    No doubt,  the workers came with high expectations to hear from President Muhammadu Buhari what has become of  the minimum wage proposal, which was tabled before his administration even before the 2016 May Day celebration. Also on the demand list was the issue of pensioners, among others.

    Apparently, a few workers came with the sole aim of ensuring that the event did not record the huge success it was set to achieve. Unlike some political rallies where huge iron barricades are always provided to protect dignitaries from people, movement around the square was free. Although it was difficult to gain access to the venue because of the huge security presence and the number of check points, nevertheless, everyone was free to move around inside the venue.

    From the outside of the venue, there were indications that a high government functionary would address the workers, considering the security presence around the venue. A physically-challenged worker bitterly complained that even when former President Olusegun Obasanjo was in power, people were never made to pass through such horrible security check and cordon. Workers were made to walk long distances before accessing the venue. From 9.00am to about 11.am, it was non-stop traffic for workers. They sat quietly waiting for the event to commence.

    By the time the celebration started, some workers, who had no place to seat inside the square, began to gradually make their way towards the podium. They came so close to the extent that their voice could drown the voice of any speaker even with the microphone. This was the situation when the Acting Permanent Secretary, who dressed more like a businesswoman, was called to address the workers on behalf of the Minister of Labour and Employment, who was also seated.

    The workers felt slighted and as she stepped forward, a shout of no, no, rent the air and this went on for almost 20 minutes before the minister stepped forward. Not even the  style adopted by Senator Ngige could persuade the workers as his shout of great Nigerian workers was greeted with a loud no!.

    The event was disrupted for more than one hour by workers, who barred officials of the Federal Government.

    Interestingly, while some of the workers were just expressing genuine anger, it soon became evident that a script may have been prepared and was being executed by a handful of workers, who defied directives from their leaders to return to their seats. Of course, they had no seat and as the Minister told  newsmen later, the rally may have been infiltrated by those determined to sabotage it. He said intelligence reports available to him indicated that some people “who are not workers” and a handful of workers that did not belong to the faction of labour infiltrated the rally.

    Ngige said the workers had no reason to be angry with the present administration because it had been very friendly with them.

    His words: “The Federal Government has been friendly to workers to the extent that it even went ahead and initiated the bailout fund. No government has done that before and that was because we did not want to lay off any worker.

    “So what happened today is that some people, who are not really workers, infiltrated this arena and started causing some problems. Be that as it may, we are going to address the issue of minimum wage, we are also going to address the issue of backlog of promotion areas and allowances of all sorts.

    “We captured them in the 2016 budget, but for some reasons the releases are not forthcoming but the president of the Senate has assured us now.

    “So, we are going to capture them in the 2017 budget appropriation and once it’s captured in the appropriation, the Minister of Finance will handle the rest.”

    Ngige insisted that the venue was infiltrated by non workers due to some fractionalisation within the labour federation, adding that the conclusion was reached based on intelligent report.

    But the question is, at what stage did the Minister get this information? The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, later attributed the incident to the growing workers’ anger over the current economic hardship in the country.

    More than 90 per cent of the workers had left the Eagles Square by the time riot policemen, civil defence personnel and soldiers were being drafted in.

    Although the event continued with the parade by a few workers remaining, this happened after the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other dignitaries,  including the Head of Service of the Federation had sneaked out of the venue through the security at the state box. The Minister of Labour stayed back for a while before leaving also through the security exit.

    Speaking with reporters on the incidence, Comrade Wabba said the workers have today expressed their sadness, challenges, as many of them have not earned their salaries, so it is a demonstration of anger on the situation in the country.

    “The challenges workers are passing through are enormous, workers have expected that either the President or the Vice President would have been present to respond to workers’ yearning and aspiration.

    “Workers’ attitude today have shown that it is an accumulation of anger, and that the economic situation is biting very hard on them as many of them cannot pay their bills,” Wabba said.

    Some workers, who spoke with The Nation, believed that there was no infiltration of the venue by non workers as claimed by the minister. To them, what played out was an accumulation of grievances against the government.

    Mrs Asaba Lydia, a unionist of the Nigeria Civil Service Union, said the workers were taken for granted by the government, hence the reason for sending representatives rather than coming themselves.

    Lydia said the issue began with the minister’s act of sending the permanent secretary to represent him while he represented the President, adding that it was not fair to the workers.

    “On a  day such as this, the government could not even honour workers by attending the event themselves. If the president is not available what about the Vice President?

    “We have tried to follow the norm as workers and it has not worked, so now we are saying we are tired of failed promises, enough is enough,‘’ she said.

    Mr Dassey Heblom, a civil servant, said they (workers) refused to listen to the speeches of the government officials because it has always been stories every year without action or implementation.

  • APC, governors, others greet workers on May Day celebration

    APC, governors, others greet workers on May Day celebration

    Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha yesterday celebrated with workers on the occasion of May Day celebration.

    Others, who also greeted workers, are: Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, former Abia State Governor Dr. Orji Kalu, a civil rights group, United Action for Democracy (UAD)and telecommunications firm Globacom.

    Saraki described workers as the life-blood and driving force of the nation’s growth in view of their invaluable contributions.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in Abuja, Saraki lauded the resilience and commitment of workers in both the formal and informal sector, describing their contribution to the nation and the economy as priceless.

    “As we mark this year’s Workers’ Day, all Nigerian workers should be proud that their significant contributions keep this nation moving forward – as they are the lifeblood of our country, an integral part of the fabric that makes up our society,” he said.

    APC National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, in a statement, thanked the workers for their strong support in the task to build a new Nigeria and bring about the change much desired by the citizenry.

    He said: “Without doubts, the economic recession has had a telling effect on the livelihoods of many working families and businesses in the country.

    “We are, however, happy to note that the country’s economy is gradually coming out of recession and the APC assures Nigerians that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari will continue to work hard to improve the livelihood of every citizen.”

    The party, therefore, called on workers to continue to support government’s effort to better the lives of the citizenry and return the country to its deserved heights.

    Akeredolu hailed the resilience of workers in the state.

    He described their determination and undying spirit in the face of the tough economic challenges in the country as commendable.

    Akeredolu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Segun Ajiboye to mark the Workers Day said he values the civil servants’ unflinching support for his administration.

    He urged them to continue to give their best towards the progress and growth of the state.

    Okorocha commended the workers for “their perseverance and immense contributions to the development of the nation.

    The  governor, who is also chairman, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum, hailed the state leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headed by Comrade Austin Chilakpu for the “understanding and harmonious relationship between the workers and the Rescue Mission Government in the state”.

    Okorocha noted that “although there had been few cases the leadership of NLC and the state government had disagreed over certain labour-related issues, but the truth remains that, at the end of the day, such issues had ended up being amicably resolved. And this lofty trend must continue to be the order of the day”.

    Ndoma-Egba lauded workers’ patriotic sacrifices and unbroken faith in Nigeria, even in the face of tough times.

    In a statement to commemorate Workers’ Day, the NDDC chairman said “undoubtedly, workers the world over are the greatest assets of every nation because, the human capital is the bedrock upon which development revolves and thrives”.

    Kalu lauded the workers for their contributions to national development, adding that their steadfastness and patriotism were remarkable.

    According to the ex-governor, Nigeria is blessed with abundant human and natural resources and as such, the country must take its rightful place in the comity of nations.

    Kalu, who is also founder/Chairman of Slok Group, made these remarks while feasting with management staff of his business conglomerate at his Abuja residence yesterday in commemoration of this year’s International Labour Day

    The business mogul urged government at all levels to improve the welfare of workers as a way of motivating them to be more productive in the discharge of their duties and responsibilities, stressing that the role of workers in nation building cannot be undermined.

    UAD called on the labour centres to unite and fight for improved working conditions for Nigerian workers.

    The group advised the Nigeria Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) to form a joint action committee (JAC) to mobilise Nigerian workers, students and youths to push for a new minimum wage.

    At a conference addressed by the Convener, Mr. Gabriel Ojumah, UAD called on JAC to declare a 48-hour strike to back up demand for unpaid salaries, decent and full time jobs, decent and affordable housing for all and proper funding of the education and healthcare sectors.

    Globacom congratulated the workers, encouraging them to continue to reinforce the virtues of hard work and excellence in their duties.

    In a statement issued in Lagos, Globacom hailed the resilient spirit of workers despite of daunting challenges and urged them to continue to uphold the dignity of labour, adding that they remain the bedrock of the nation’s economic growth.

  • Abia Poly workers to get Nov pay ‘soon’

    Acting Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Prof. Friday Ezionye Eboh said staff of the polytechnic would soon be paid their November 2016 salary. This is even as he has assured that the institution under his watch would not experience any industrial dispute.

    Eboh in a maiden press conference with newsmen at the conference room of the polytechnic  described industrial action as an ill wind that blows anyone in the institution any good.

    According to him, the school since his assumption as the acting rector has saved a lot of monies for the institution through plugging of so many leakages and wastages used by being individuals to siphon monies that were supposed to be remitted into the school’s coffers.

    He said that the current steps taking by his administration was to ensure that there won’t be any breach of the institution’s academic calendar as it were the case in the past.

    “We are here to institute a system that works and outlive us and others that will assume office as the head of the institution. We want to ensure that the students get effective delivery of services which they paid for. It is our resolve that the school get back to winning and glorious ways.”

    The rector said that his administration was exploring other avenues to generate more money for the school in order to compliment the monthly subvention to the school by the state government.