By Saheed Ibrahim

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Staff members of Ondo State-owned universities have suspended their ongoing industrial strike, which had been in effect since February 26, 2024, for 14 days.

The decision came following a series of congresses held by the Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU), and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) across various campuses in the state.

As contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of JAC-ODSTI, Comrade Tayo Ogungbeni and his Secretary, Comrade Kunle Akinwonmi, yesterday, the strike was prompted by several grievances, including the demand for the payment of a wage award of thirty-five thousand naira (#35,000) with its arrears, as well as the implementation of the 2019 minimum wage and a 100% increment in monthly subvention to address financial challenges faced by tertiary institutions in Ondo State.

However, after negotiations with representatives of the state government, led by His Excellency, Governor Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa, agreements were reached, which included the payment of the wage award along with the release of special intervention funds to the institutions, as well as the implementation of the 2019 minimum wage and the release of approved budgetary allocations for the year 2024 to tertiary institutions.

The congresses resolved to suspend the strike with effect from 12:00 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, for 14 days, following extensive deliberations, to provide the state government with the opportunity to fulfill its commitments, giving the following resolutions:

“That the wage award be paid with its arrears as agreed with the leadership of JAC-ODSTI

“That the Government should also with effect from March, 2024 prove its commitment on the issue of increment in subvention to the various institution

“That the Universities Governing Councils and Management of the institutions that have not implemented the 2019 minimum wage should do so with immediate effect and the arrears be paid henceforth, having noticed that the Governing Council members has been enjoying upward reviews in their allowances a long time ago.

 “That the Government of Ondo State should release all the outstanding subventions of 2016/17 having paid outstanding salaries of other civil servants that were affected as well.

“That the State Government should with immediate effect set up a visitation panel to all the tertiary institutions in the state as it is long overdue in line with the position of the laws establishing the institutions and composition of the panel should be made of men/women of proven integrity.

“The Congress appeals to the Governor and Visitor to our Institutions, His Excellency Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa, the Governing Councils and the Universities management to prove their commitments to the agreements reached during the meetings on the above issues raised in the interest of peace and industrial harmony in the State”

However, the JAC-ODSTI warned that failure to implement the agreements would result in the resumption of the suspended industrial action.