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Tag: workers

  • Minimum wage: Hope brightens for workers

    Labour has scaled the first hurdle in its quest for a N30, 000 minimum wage. The committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari has upheld its position.

    For workers, it was cheery news. Yesterday, the Tripartite Committee on Nation Minimum Wage upheld Labour’s demand for  N30, 000 for the least paid worker. President Muhammadu Buhari, who received the committee’s report at the Villa in Abuja, pledged his commitment to the recommendation.

    The Ms. Ama Pepple-led committee comprising the government (federal and states), Labour and Organised Private Sector (OPS) proposed N30, 000 in its report to the President.

    The President promised to send a New Minimum Wage Bill to the National Assembly after presenting the proposal to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the Council of State (CoS).

    He warned workers against being used as political tools.

    The presidential endorsement came after Labour shelved its planned nationwide strike over the matter to ensure its amicable resolution.

    The submission of the report was a relief for labour leaders, who had hectic time selling their position to the federal and state governments.

    The Federal Government proposed N24, 000 and the states, through the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) N22, 500.

     

    MAN, LCCI react

     

    On the heels of the recommendation, MAN’s

    Director-General Segun Ajayi-Kadir said the association was in full in support of the implementation of a new minimum wage notwithstanding the difference in the operational modes of the private and public sectors.

    He, however, said the implementation of a new minimum wage will be difficult for the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs). Ajayi-Kadir said it will be easy for bigger enterprises as many of them have been paying higher.

    He said: “Some chief executives of MSMEs may not be able to take home N30, 000 monthly. How much more their staff? They may adopt some model which may not be favourable to their workers as they can resort to inviting some layers of staff only when they are needed.

    “In our advocacy we have consistently complained that our warehouses are stocked with low consumer apathy. The new wage will put money in the hands Nigerians”.

    He said the OPS will be looking forward to stability in the labour force.

    LCCI Director-General Muda Yusuf who said the private sector has been paying above the minimum expressed the fear that the Small & Medium Enterprises (SMEs) may not meet up with the wage increase.

    He said: “There may be different challenges for the SMEs as they may adopt different models for engagement. Rather than keep all their staff, they may rationalise them by only inviting those that they need at a particular time. The big corporations have nothing to worry about as they are already paying the minimum wage.”

    He commended the government for working successfully with the private sector and labour to arrive at an acceptable figure and averting crises.

     

    Labour unions hailed

     

    The Ebonyi State chapter of the NLC commended leaders of the various labour unions for their resilience in the struggle for a living wage for workers.

    State chairman Leonard Nkah described the successful negotiation of a new wage by the leadership of organised labour as a demonstration of good virtues and strength of character.

    He, therefore, called on other relevant authorities to expedite action to get the new wage passed into law to enable Nigerian workers to enjoy a living wage.

    Nkah said: “The organised labour in Ebonyi just ended its meeting this (yesterday) morning, whereby we extolled the virtues and strength of character exhibited by our national leadership, including the TUC, ULC and NLC.

    “We commended them for holding on tenaciously on the new national minimum wage until government came around to accept what had earlier been agreed upon.

    “So, we are very happy and we praise the leadership of organised labour in Nigeria for being undaunted in the struggle.”

    He opined that once the new national minimum wage was signed into law, that state governors were bound to pay.

    His words: “Once the new figure is signed into law, nobody not even the governors, has the powers to say that they cannot pay.

    “Anybody who refuses to pay will be going against the law and we don’t envisage that any governor will refuse to pay the new wage once it is signed into law.

    “In our own state, the governor has stated his willingness to pay once any amount is agreed upon. Once it comes out, organised labour in various states will approach their various state governors for implementation.

    “So, we are hopeful and we are not being negative that governors may not pay the new wage once signed, but if it happens we will rise to the occasion.”

     

    Buhari: we’ll transmit Executive Bill to National Assembly for passage

    The President’s remarks after receiving the National Minimum Wage Report from the tripartite committee yesterday at the State House in Abuja.

    On 27th November 2017, I inaugurated the National Minimum Wage Committee with a mandate to recommend a new minimum wage for workers.

    This exercise became necessary for many reasons. The last review took place in 2011. We all know since then, the prices of key consumables have increased and the most vulnerable of our workers are struggling to make ends meet.

    Since 2011, many changes have taken place. Nigeria rebased its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to become the largest economy in Africa. We reported very strong GDP growth rates and exceptional performance of our capital markets.  However, these reported successes did not flow into the pockets and homes of majority of Nigerians.

    In the last three years, we focused on correcting this deficiency. We are working to create a diversified and inclusive economy. We are pushing to clear pension arrears owed to our retired workers with the limited resources available to us.

    We supported state governments to pay workers salary. And of course, we set up a committee in order to review the minimum wage of workers.

    In constituting this committee, we took into account the need for all stakeholders to be adequately represented – the government, the private sector and most importantly, the workers. Our goal was to get an outcome that was consensual.

    From the outset, we knew the committee had a difficult task ahead of it. But at the same time, we were also confident that the patriotic and professional background of its members would produce realistic, fair and implementable recommendations that will be considered by both the executive and legislative arms of government.

    I am not surprised that the committee has worked for close to one year. I am also not surprised that on a few occasions, the debates got heated and sometimes, these differences came out.

    What is truly inspiring is that, in almost all instances of disagreements, the committee members always came back to the negotiating table with a common goal of improving the welfare of workers.

    On behalf of all Nigerians today, I want to thank you for your commitment and sacrifice in getting us to where we are today.

    In the past few days, I have been receiving regular updates on your deliberations. And today, I am pleased that you have completed your work in a peaceful and non-confrontational manner. The entire nation is grateful to you all.

    The committee chairman highlighted some of the challenges encountered during your deliberations, especially as it relates to having a consensus position acceptable by all parties.

    I understand, on the government side, the concerns raised were around affordability – that today many states struggle to meet their existing salary requirements.

    On the side of labour, the points raised focused on the need for any increase to be meaningful.

    In a way, both arguments are valid. I want to assure you all that we will immediately put in place the necessary machinery that will close out these open areas. Our plan is to transmit the Executive Bill to the National Assembly for passage within the shortest possible time.

    I am fully committed to having a new National Minimum Wage Act in the very near future.

    Let me use this opportunity to recognise the leadership of the Organised Labour and private sector as well as representatives of state and federal governments for all your hard work. The fact that we are here today, is a notable achievement.

    As the Executive Arm commences its review of your submission, we will continue to engage you all in closing any open areas presented in this report. I therefore would like to ask for your patience and understanding in the coming weeks.

    May I therefore, employ workers and their leaders not to allow themselves to be used as political weapons.

     

    The tripartite committee

    The Tripartite National Minimum Wage Negotiating Committee had its membership drawn up from the public sector (federal and state governments); Labour (NLC, TUC and ULC); the private sector (the largest private employer group – the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce Industry Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA) and Nigerian Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (NASME).

    The panel, which was inaugurated by the President at the Council Chamber of the State House Villa in Abuja on November 27, last year 2017, was chaired by Ms. Pepple, a former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HoCSF) and one-time Housing Minister. Labour & Employment Minister Chris Ngige was named as deputy chairman and the Chairman of the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Chief Richard Egbule, as secretary.

    In his remarks at the inauguration, President Buhari said: “Government’s decision after considering your final recommendation will be sent as an Executive Bill to the National Assembly for it to undergo appropriate legislative scrutiny before passage into law.

    “As is evident by the membership of the committee, state governors and private sector employers are part of this process. This will ensure ease of implementation of a new minimum wage nationwide.

    “I am hopeful that the principles of full consultation with social partners and their direct participation would be utilised by the committee, bearing in mind the core provisions of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Minimum Wage Fixing Convention No. 131 and Minimum Wage Fixing Machinery Convention No.26 (ratified by Nigeria).

    “Accordingly, conditions of genuine social dialogue should prevail in the spirit of tripartite and collective bargaining agreements. I, therefore, enjoin you all to, collectively bargain in good faith, have mutual recognition for each other and always in a spirit of give and take.”

    Besides Ngige, other representatives of the Federal Government are: Budget & National Planning Minister Senator Udoma Udo Udoma; Finance Minister Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; HoCSF Mrs. Winifred E. Oyo-Ita and the Permanent Secretary (General Services) Office, Office of the SGF, Dr. Roy Ugo.

    The NGF was represented by governors Rauf Aregbesola (Osun, Southwest); Rochas Okorocha (Imo, Southeast); Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe, Northeast); Nyesom Wike (Rivers, Southsouth); Simon Lalong (Plateau, Northcentral) and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi, Northwest). The NGF’s Forum’s Director-General A. B. Okauru, was an observer status.

    On the trade union side, are: NLC President Ayuba Wabba; Peters Adeyemi (NLC); Kiri Mohammed (NLC); Amechi Asugwuni (NLC) and Peter Ozo-Eson (NLC), the TUC was represented by Bobboi Bala Kaigama (President); Sunday Olusoji Salako; Alade Bashir Lawal; Igwe Achese and Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) president.

    On the employers’ side were: NECA’s Director-General Olusegun Oshinowo; Timothy Olawale (NECA); Chuma Nwankwo (NECA); Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI) Director-General Mrs. Olubunmi Adekoje; Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) Kaduna East branch Chairman Ahmed Ladan Gobir; Francis Oluwagbenro (MAN); NACCIMA Kano branch President Hajia Muheeba Dankaka and NASME President Degun Agboade.

    According to its mandate, the panel was billed to conclude its work and submit its recommendation to the Presidency for onward transmission in form of an Executive Bill to the National Assembly for ratification in the third quarter.

  • Rector urges workers to check health status

    •’Exercise to keep fit’

    The Rector of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Mr. Samuel Sogunro, yesterday advised workers of the institution to always exercise in order to keep fit and remain healthy.

    The rector, who spoke during a walk tagged “Walk for Life”, also urged the workers to inculcate the habit of exercising and living a healthy life.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise took place on the school premises before the beginning of work.

    Sogunro said many workers did not create time to exercise because of their busy schedule, thereby affecting their health.

    Read also: Laspotech set to inaugurate radio station

    He said no progress could be achieved where “a worker usually goes on sick leave.”

    “There is need for employers and employees in institutions of higher learning and all stakeholders to exercise and check their health status regularly.

    “Walking is a great way to improve or maintain your overall health. Just 30 minutes’ walk every day can increase cardiovascular fitness, strengthen bones, reduce excess body fat and boost muscle power and endurance.

    “Unlike other forms of exercise, walking is free and doesn’t require any special equipment or training.

    “Physical activity does not have to be vigorous or done for a long period in order to improve your health,” the rector said.

     

     

  • Workers deserve living wage

    Sir: There is no gainsaying the fact that Nigerian workers are hard working people who have passion for their jobs and ready to give their best. What has continued to be their problem is lack of good wages occasioned by poor condition of services. With the exception of some ‘lucrative’ government agencies and private enterprises, Nigerians workers take home is nothing to write home about. If one compares the good working conditions of workers in other countries of the world such as US, UK and Ghana, the workers are the least paid.

    With the N18,000 national minimum wage that some states government and private sector can not pay, one imagines how these poorly paid workers survive the galloping inflation that has hit the country hard. Of course, in the last three years, the costs of goods and services have skyrocketed, eaten up the meagre wages workers receive. Nigerians workers are left at their mercy, spending their hard-earned monthly income on basic necessity of lives, children’s school or tuition fees, rents etc.

    Nigerian workers hardly save. Most of their monthly incomes go into servicing loans. No wonder, workers to live in miserable and frustrated lives while the political office holders enjoy fat salaries and allowances. President Muhammad Buhari, during an interview granted to BBC and other media upon assumption of office on why he refused to form his cabinet six months in power stated: “politician are noise makers, with the bulk of the works being done by the civil servants”. This indicates that even the president appreciated the role of civil servants for socio-economic development of Nigeria.

    President Buhari last year inaugurated tripartite committee on national minimum wage comprised of government representatives headed by former Head of Service, Ama Pepple, organised labour and trade union congress members to work out and come up with acceptable national minimum wage. After several deliberations, bargaining and strike warning, the government recommended N24,000 as a minimum wage with state governments and private sector proposing N20,000. In what appear to be a dramatic twist, the organised labour has vowed to go on strike on November 6, unless the government agrees to pay N30,000 as jointly agreed by both the parties. The Nigerian government should do everything humanly possible to stop labour union from embarking on another strike.

    The much talked about war against corruption being waged by this government cannot be achieved with the current peanut wage. The national minimum wage which by labour laws demands periodic review should be hurriedly implemented. The Buhari administration which claims to be workers-friend should hasten the implementation of minimum wage to reflect the economic realities. Living, decent or well-packaged wage is seriously needed to spur productivity and reduce corruption to the barest level.

     

    • Ibrahim Mustapha,

     Pambegua, Kaduna State.

  • Don’t vote for selfish politicians, workers told

    The Senior Staff Association of NigerianUniversities (SSANU) has warned workers against voting for politicians that will not create a conducive working environment.

    In a communiqué issued after its 34th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, at the Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, its National President, Samson Igwoke, said some politicians forget to pursue popular policies that can improve the lives of the people after they get into office.

    SSANU berated the Federal Government for refusing to obey court orders on the re-engagement of sacked university staff school workers.

    The communiqué, signed by Igwoke and the National Public Relations Officer, Abdussobur Salaam, warned against the proliferation of universities.

    The communiqué read in part: “NEC calls on all Nigerians to be more circumspect and careful in the choice of leaders who would determine the affairs of the nation for the next four years.

    “NEC urges Nigerians to be wary of politicians who make promises they never mean to keep, noting that the hopes of the ordinary Nigerians have been dashed and their trust in those who seek to lead them have been betrayed time and time again.

    “NEC notes that it is the way of politicians and members of the political class in Nigeria to seek all means, fair or foul, to control the wealth of the nation at the expense of the ordinary citizen who continues to live in abject poverty, pain and hopelessness.

    “NEC, therefore, urges citizens to realise the great power they have over the electoral process by obtaining their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) in order to exercise their powers and ensure that themselves and their children are not used for political violence and other unwholesome acts that can jeopardise the electoral process.”

    The union noted that the minimum wage negotiations were becoming unnecessarily protracted, saying that it does appear that the Federal Government is not sincere about the negotiations and that the decision of the Federal Government team to unilaterally postpone the meeting of the Committee sine die, on the grounds of further consultations, is flimsy.

    The communiqué added: “SSANU joins the Nigeria Labour Congress to call on the Federal Government to face the serious business of reviewing the national minimum wage lest it incur the wrath of the Nigerian workers and their millions of dependants who have been long suffering and patient.

    “Workers should not be pushed to the wall, as the implication of this, could have dire consequences on governance.”

    On the proliferation of universities that do not have the required equipment for excellent teaching, SSANU expressed worry about the rate of approvals granted for new universities by the government.

    It observed that the establishment of universities has almost become  constituency projects as every Senator seems to be sponsoring a bill for the establishment or upgrade of an institution to a university in his or her constituency.

    While stressing that the universities may have challenges meeting up with the increasing admission needs of the country, SSANU insisted that the solution was not the proliferation of universities.

    The union said rather, the government should improve the funding and infrastructure of the universities to increase their capacities and the number of students they could admit.

  • TUC to workers: participate in politics

    Trade Union Congress (TUC) President, Bobboi Bala Kaigama, has urged workers to participate in politics so they could be positioned to influence policies that directly affect them and their welfare.

    Kaigama, who spoke at the fourth triennial delegates’ conference of the Ogun State Council of the Congress in Abeokuta, urged workers on the need to come out to seek elective positions, as they have great roles to play in the nation’s democracy.

    Represented by the National Secretary of the union, Lawal Musa, Kaigama said while the union will play its own part by mobilising workers to vote, workers need not to shy away from participating actively in politics, as it is their right.

    “This is a political era, workers must play a role in the nation’s democracy. As a union, we will play our part; we shall mobilise people to vote. Union people should also take active parts in politics, so as to be able to determine our fate. If you refuse to play politics, politics will play you,” he said.

    Kaigama, who said the leadership of the union would not compromise on fighting for the welfare of  workers, noted that the leadership had been up and doing, engaging the government at various levels to get a better deal for workers.

    TUC Ogun State Chairman Olubunmi Fajobi urged Governor Ibikunle Amosun to fulfill his promise of paying outstanding arrears  before leaving office, advising him to rescind his decision that civil servants should wait till 2020 to earn promotion.

     

  • Workers insist on Sept deadline for new minimum wage

    As  the countdown to the deadline for the passage of a new minimum wage approaches, the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) has urged the Federal Government to match its words with actions and ensure that the new minimum wage is implemented on or before September.

    The NCSU President, Comrade Lawrence Amaechi, expressed concern over what he described as the inconsistencies in the utterances and body language of the Federal Government in actualising the September 2018 deadline for the minimum wage.

    “To this end, we urge the Federal Government to match its words with actions so that the high expectations of workers on the implementation of the new minimum wage would be realised on or before September, 2018, failing which the entire members of the union will not take it with levity,” he said.

    He also decried the high and intimidating rate of unemployment in Nigeria, saying it posed very serious security risk and threat to national peace and unity.

    “We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to look inwards and device a policy that will generate massive employment opportunities for able-bodied youths.

    “In this direction, infrastructural and industrial development should be at the front burner so as to nip in the bud possible revolution that may erupt as a result of massive unemployment in Nigeria today,” Amaechi said.

    He condemned the spate of consistent and unwarranted killings and bloodshed in Nigeria and observed with pains and regrets that the killings were synonymous with ethnic and religious cleansing.

    Amaechi described the killings and kidnappings as major threat to national unity, masking other issues that should get national attention.

    He also urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, overhaul its security architecture and apparatus so as to enable the security operatives arrest the collapse in the security sector headlong.

  • Street cleaners workers allege non-payment of July-August salaries

    Street cleaners yesterday stormed Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s office, protesting the alleged non-payment of their July and August salaries.

    Chanting songs and displaying different banners, the workers who were engaged under the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) complained of discrepancies in their salaries and of not being issued with identity cards.

    Some of the placards read, “Visionscape and Environment and others, don’t make life difficult for us,” “Accumulation of Salary: we don’t want deduction of salary,” “Don’t politicise our lives,” “Governor should know sweepers are also voters,” among others.

    A protester Mrs. Salau Ologun, accused their employers of making life difficult for them.

    The government, she said, was in sensitive to their plight, adding that they could not continue to suffer in silence.

    Addressing the protesters Permanent (PS) Secretary in the Ministry of the Environment Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye said their July and August salaries were ready.

    The government, he said, took the project from the company handling and was still trying to put things in order.

    “We were able to clear the salaries from January to June. It is true we owe July and August, but we have got approval for the payment. We are trying to audit the staff and the accounts and ensure that we are not paying ghost workers.

    “There are some anomalies in the system. Your normal salary is N18,500 per month. Whoever collects less than that should lodge a complaint and attach his or her payment slip if the person has been reporting for work regularly.

    “We don’t want to send your money through intermediaries, which is why we pay you through banks,” he said.

    The PS said their identity cards, letters of employment other conditions of engagement would soon be ready.

    On the worker that died, Bamgboye said the ministry came to her aid when she was hit by a vehicle. According to him, she was taken to Lagos General Hospital, where she was rejected.

    The victim, he said, conveyed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), where they said there was no space. Bamgboye said the victim died before she got to Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH).

    “We will visit the family of the deceased and do the necessary things. We have provided safety devices for you, but some drivers are drunk, while some are careless. We have insured your lives and our government is ready to compensate the family of whoever loses his or her life on the job,” he said.

  • TUC urges Fed Govt on affordable housing for workers

    The President of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, has berated the Federal Government for not taking workers’ income into consideration in the housing projects being implemented across the nation.

    Kaigama said previous efforts to build houses for workers had remained white elephant projects because they did not plan for the workers by knowing their salary strengths.

    He said: “When you are building houses and you do not know your offtakers’ status, your effort will be in vain. What we have currently is a case of building for the upper class.”

    He spoke in Abuja at a stakeholders’ forum to announce a partnership between workers of the Voice of Nigeria (VON) and Value Chain Consults.

    The partnership is for Value Chain Consults to construct houses for VON workers.

    Kaigama said the project would cover two states in each geopolitical zone, with special ones in Abuja and Lagos in the first phase. He noted that the project which had the backing of President Muhammadu Buhari was an important incentive to make workers more productive, prevent corruption, as well as check insecurity.

    He praised Value Chain Consults for carrying out detailed housing affordability survey for the civil servants, which would eliminate the problem of unoccupied houses due to the inability of workers to pay, and also commended them for taking the pain to pre-qualify the workers before embarking on the construction of the houses.

    Kaigama wondered why international banks gave loans at single digit, while Nigerian banks charged as high as 25 percent interest from loans.

    VON Director General (DG)  Osita Okechukwu assured the workers that the project would be carefully executed for their benefit and that 20 hectares had been allocated at Lugbe for the first phase.

    “I want to assure you that when the planning stage is completed within the next two weeks, we will commence construction of the houses and Mr. President will commission them,” he said.

    He said VON staff would be accommodated the arrangement, starting with staff residing in Abuja.

     

  • ‘Over 23,000 workers to lose jobs over ban on codeine’

    The National Union of Chemical Footwear Rubber Leather and Non-Metallic Products Employees (NUCFRLANMPE) has warned that over 23,000 workers would lose their jobs due to the blanket ban on codeine by the Federal Government.

    Specifically, the union said many big pharmaceutical companies would be forced to close shop, and this could cause over 23,000 workers to lose their jobs.

    NUCFRLANMPE lamented that the number of workers that would be affected would be colossal as many companies manufacturing cough and pain-relieving drugs that use codeine as raw materials may have to shut down.

    Instead of the blanket ban, the union advised the government to find a way of controlling the use of codeine, as done in the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom.

    NUCFRLANMPE President  Comrade Babatunde Olatunji said: “Codeine is an analgesic with uses similar to those of morphine, but it is much less potent as an analgesic and has only mild sedative effects. It is also used in the treatment of cough, diarrhoea as well as other chronic conditions such as arthritis and migraine’’.

    “It is obvious that some criminality minded people are using this product as addictive substances as done all over the world, including advanced countries like US and UK, but codeine is also an important raw material in the production of pain relieving and cough suppressant drugs.”

    He called on the government to adopt a system in which prescription of the drugs will be strictly adhered to so as to prevent closure of many pharmaceutical companies in the country and the attendant job losses.

  • Earned allowances split UNIOSUN VC, workers

    Since the five-year moratorium on unionism was lifted at the Osun State University (UNIOSUN) in 2012, workers have been agitating for one thing or the other. The non-teaching staff are on strike. To the management, a “handful of troublemakers” are stoking the crisis under the guise of unionism. Union leaders contend that the management is high handed and victimises workers, with the “no work, no pay”rule being its latest weapon to end agitation for the payment of outstanding earned allowances. ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA and ADESOJI ADENIYI (OSOGBO) report.

    With the “no work no pay” directive of the Osun State University (UNIOSUN), the battle between the management and the workers’ union over unpaid earned allowances appears to have heightened.

    Agitation for the earned allowances and hazard allowance dates back to 2012 when workers first demanded for it. When the Vice Chancellor Prof Labode Popoola assumed duty in November 2016, he inherited the earned allowances for the 2013/14 and 2014/15 sessions as well as unremitted pension and tax deductions.

    Though the payment was eventually approved in 2016, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the Visitor to the university, suspended the payment because the state was battling to pay salaries.This provoked workers protests, which almost culminated in the cancellation of the university’s convocation last year.

    The management insists that strike or no strike, academic activities must continue, while contentious issues should be resolved amicably. But the workers would have none of that. They said the strike declared on March 5, to press for the payment of their earned allowances must stand.

    Workers, under the umbrella of the Joint Action Congress (JAC), comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union and Allied Institutions-(NASU), and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), told their members not to sign the attendance  registers opened in the six campuses of the university for those willing to work.

    JAC is calling for the head of the governing council  chairman Mallam Yusuf Ali, and the VC over plans to sack the union leaders. It also alleged corruption, high handedness and wastefulness on the part of management. The unions called for a probe of the financial activities of the 11-year-old institution.

    They  accused Popoola of squandering the N3 billion handed over to him when he took over. The VC denied the allegation, saying he inherited N1.8 billion.

    Popoola claimed that some union members collected money from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), but did not use it for what it was meant.

    Although the management set up a panel, which exonerated the VC, the workers still insisted that Popoola was guilty. It demanded that the panel should make its report public.

    Last month, the House of Assembly, Head of Service and heads of security agencies intervened, asked the parties to sheathe their swords and allow the lawmakers probe the allegations. The workers obeyed them.

    But the crisis resumed when the management was said to have suspended 10 union leaders over the allegations that they disturbed the peace of the institution with  their protests.

    After refusing to acknowledge the suspension letter forwarded to their email addresses, the management was said to have queried the workers and asked them to appear before the Staff Disciplinary Committee (SDC) to explain why they protested in the institution.

    Last Friday, the management described the allegations as tissues of lies. They said those heating up the system were not workers, but a handful of trouble makers hiding under unionism.

    Supporting his claims with documentary evidence, Popoola said it was corruption that was fighting back in the system. He challenged workers to come up with evidence of any shady deals he was involved.

    UNIOSUN Administrative block, Osogbo Campus
    UNIOSUN Administrative block, Osogbo Campus

    Defending his honour, he said: “Allegations remain allegations and the important thing for me to say is that some of the things that are published by the media are untrue.

    “Truth is, at UNIOSUN, we have a group of people, very few, but with entrenched interest. They are not even up to 20, yet they operate under the guise of unionism. They were in charge of administration before I came and they also wanted to control this administration here, but I think I am beyond that.

    “I have never been corrupt. I fight corruption, so we have a situation where corruption is fighting back.

    “By principle, I have never taken or given a bribe and I have suffered for it. No contractor comes to me for kickbacks because they know I won’t take it.”

    Popoola also contested the figures he said workers claimed he inherited upon resumption of office.

    “I didn’t inherit N3 billion (when I resumed). What I had in the papers handed to me was N1.8 billion, including money for TETFund (Tertiary Education Trust Fund), Needs Assessment, and grants owned by some researchers in this university. You can’t even touch them because they don’t even belong to the university. So, the university was bankrupt when I took over. We later found that there were debts owed up to N1 billion and the Council is aware of it. So, if some people under the guise of unionism will raise such allegations because they have issues with the VC, then something must be wrong somewhere,” he said.

    He said despite the state owing salaries because of financial crisis, the institution’s finances had improved since he came, saying workers were paid as and when due. This, Popoola explained, was achieved by blocking loopholes and prudent management of resources.

    “We have made money, close to N2 billion, through blocking of leakages. Overall, we have managed what we have prudently. No university pays salaries ahead of us. At present, we barely receive 25 per cent of our salary bill from the government, yet for the 18 months that I have been here, we pay salary by 25th of every month and it is full and not modulated.

    “When I came here, we had a retainership with one of the networks where we were paying about N9 million. But I thought that was pretty high and I invited them here and we renegotiated; it came down to N6 million. So in a year, we are saving about N12 million. Second, to conduct exam used to cost the university between N10 and N12 million per semester; but I scrutinised things with my principal officers. Now we spend about N5 million. Interestingly, this last Harmattan semester exam, we spent much less. Third, I was handed a bill of N158 million for the accreditation of 19 programmes. I called all heads of departments to work together with us on this. We ended up spending N54 million and all the programmes were accredited,” the VC said.

    Popoola said some of the union leaders who had problems with the institution were using unionism to evade justice.

    “The rules are very clear. Unfortunately, someone like me will not sweep infractions under the carpet. For instance, we have about 24 workers who collected TETFund grants about three years ago and pocketed it. The rule is, you cannot keep TETFund money with you. If it is not used for its purpose, you return it.  So, when TETFund wrote to us to account for it, what do you expect me to do as the chief executive of this place?”

    But JAC, in its response, said Popoola was being economical with the truth.

    “How can the VC say only a few members are making trouble in the system. Unions’ agitations are usually collective and whatever advantage derived therefrom is for the benefit of the entire workforce, the system, and even the students,” said the Chairman of JAC, Comrade Lekan Idiat.

    Idiat said Popoola was biased against the non-academic unions.

    “We have over 300 of our members across the three unions, but the VC is using divide-and-rule tactics against us. Last year, ASUU went on strike for six months and nothing happened, so why is our matter raising so much eyebrows?

    “Let him provide documentary evidence against our members that he said are cutting corners in the system. As a union, we do not condone indiscipline. In fact, we supported the sack of some of our members that committed certain infractions sometime ago.

    “If the VC said he was able to reduce huge amount the university used to spend on examination, and also that of accreditation, that should not be our business. As non-teaching staff, we do not have access to that money, it is the professors that collect examination fees, so he should not lump us into that,” he said.

    Idiat said the allegations that their members collected TETFund money and spent it was not true.

    “What happened was that at the point some of our members applied for this funds, naira was N250 to a dollar. Unfortunately, by the time the money was released the equivalent of naira to a dollar was about N500. Many of our members were then confronted with the rising cost of things which made unrealisable what the fund was meant for.

    “But, at present, I can categorically tell you that, almost, if not all workers that took that fund, have refunded because the VC sent out a memo that the fund should be retired within 24 hours.”

    He said what workers wanted from the management is to see them as partners in progress and not enemies in the development of the university.

    JAC Secretary Dada Kunmi said the workers were behind their leaders, who were purportedly suspended by the management.

    He said the management disregarded the order by the National Industrial Court in Ibadan, stopping them from constituting the Staff Disciplinary Committee.

    He also accused Popoola of removing all the union members on committee, witch-hunting, and harassing the workers for exposing his alleged financial recklessness and maladministration.

    But, contrarily, a lecturer, who did not wish to be named, claimed the crisis was a personal vendetta, arguing that the allegations levelled against the VC were false.

    “All the crisis seen today in UNIOSUN is nothing but a personal vendetta and a witch-hunt against the vice chancellor.

    “To the best of my knowledge, ever since the VC came around, he has been doing all he could to position the school among the best.

    “He wants to generate more income to the university while trying to cut costs. This has put him in the black book of many.

    “He is a human; no doubt, he might have erred but not on the allegations levelled against him that I am in the know of. The projects for which he is being questioned were not approved during his tenure.

    During an interactive session with the Parents Forum last week, Mallam Ali said but for the intervention of security agencies, the striking workers would have disrupted the last accreditation between last November and December, and the Harmattan Semester examination which started on March 13.

    He said a suggestion that the unions should allow low-level workers to operate skeletal services during the strike was rejected.

    “The strike enforcement team of JAC moved around with whips, cudgels and dangerous objects to scare off and drive out willing regular staff, support staff and NYSC members. The unions moved around generator houses to ensure that support staff could not work. In some instances, they went away with the key to the storage tanks for diesel to ensure that diesel was not available to power the generating sets. Cases in point were Osogbo and Ejigbo campuses where the generators were shut during examinations and an organised debate session and the keys taken away.”

    Some parents have called for an end to the crisis.

    Alhaja Basirat Owolabi appealed to the institution management and the aggrieved staff members to allow peace to reign so that the crisis would not affect the academic pursuit of their wards.

    “The aggrieved parties should not forget that when two elephants clash, the grass suffers. Every one of them should bury whatever they have against each other.

    “They should pay particular attention to developments in the school. They are scholars and what we expect of them is an attitude that truly portrays who they are,” she said.

    On his part, Mr Taiwo Fasoranti, a civil servant, described the crisis as shameful and unnecessary.

    “My son whose mates have left school for service is still in school due to the inconsequential issues. It is either today ASUU or tomorrow SANNU. They have not portrayed the school in a good light.

    “And considering the amount we pay, this is the least any parent would accept. The visitor to the institution and the governing council must as a matter of urgency wade into this crisis before it brings down the university,” he said.