Academic Activities Paralyzed As UI Workers Begin Indefinite Strike

Academic activities have been paralyzed at the Premier University of Ibadan, following the declaration of an indefinite strike by members of the Non Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), UI Branch.

The workers are protesting alleged ‘illegal’ deductions of pension fund and shortfall in the payment of salaries by the university management, and resorted to down tools on Monday.

All the three non academic unions of the university: Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, led by its chairman, Wale Akinremi; National Association of Academic Technologists, led by Caleb Falaye; and Non-Academic Staff Union, which has O.A Arojo as its leader agreed to proceed on the strike at a joint congress.

The unions had earlier given the school management till March 10, 2017 to address the issues or face the indefinite strike action by the members.

Their demands include non-payment of promotion arrears, illegal pension deductions, constitution of independent and credible staff audit exercise and investigation into the internally generated revenue and its mode of expenditure.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities, UI chapter, Dr. Deji Omole, said the position of its congress to proceed on a warning strike was still being processed by the national headquarters of the union. The union had recently resolved to proceed on a week-long strike to protest shortfall in salaries, illegal deduction of pensions, unpaid postgraduate supervision allowance and promotion arrears.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, had written to the unions stating his resolve to improve on staff welfare. However, members of the unions rejected his plea for time to address their grievances, saying they had had enough.