“Osun Lecturers Toying With Students Future”

Posted by African Examiner education, Latest Headlines, News Friday, April 11th, 2014

Oyewale Oyelola

The State of Osun government has alleged the striking lecturers in four higher institutions in the state of toying with future of students.

Special Adviser to Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Education; Alhaja Mulikat Bello said this in an online interview with African Examiner correspondent on the ongoing strike.

Her words: “We are worried that despite all our effort and sacrifice to ensure that we meet their(lecturers) demands, they were adamant to continue the strike. They are unfair to the government and students. They are toying with future of the students.

Alhaja Bello disclosed that state of osun government has done a lot resolve the ongoing strike. She stated that lecturers demand include; elongation of retirement age from 60-65years, issue relating to deduction and remittance of pension fund, retirement bond and general life insurance.

On retirement age: she said the executive have forwarded the bill to elongate retirement age to 65years to House of Assembly for quick passage.

“You know we have three arms of government; executive, legislature and Judiciary. Executive has done it own part by sending the bill to House of Assembly for passage.” She added

Alhaja Bello stated that Aregbesola led administration has signed general life assurance policy for local government workers and civil servants in the state. She added the life assurance include all lecturers in all the tertiary institutions in the state.

She said:”We have shown them the General Life Assurance certificate to prove to them that we actually insure all our workers. We show them the certificate to let them know the name of the insurance company, period of the cover, beneficiaries and other details.

“The general life assurance covers all staff in civil service including lecturers in all state of osun owned higher institutions. If they have any reservation, they are free to verify from the insurance company. We also sent circular to this effect.

“On retirement bond, no problem with that, anybody that has not fill the form should get form from bureau of public pension for regularization.”

She noted that Ogbeni Aregbesola’s administration is committed to welfare of all their staff including lecturers. “The watchword of our government is transparency. We don’t promise what we can not do, we don’t lie or deceive people and we are proud to flaunt our achievements anywhere”.

The Special Adviser on Education urged lecturers to suspend the strike as government has shown enough commitment to meet their demands.

Meanwhile, the Chairman,The Council of Academic Staff Union of Osun State Owned Tertiary Institutions, CASUOSTI, who doubles as Chairman College of Education Academic Staff Union, Osun State College of Education, Ila Orangun, Comrade Lasisi Jimoh in sharp reaction to government claim said the list of people covered the general life assurance was generated the state government not the insurance company.

He added that nobody has benefited from the general life assurance, therefore it can not be rely upon.

African Examiner investigations revealed the students of four affected institutions; Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State College of Technology, Esa Oke, Osun state College of Education, Ila Orangun and Ilesa would commence mass protest next week to express their displeasure for their continue stay at home.