Osun Lecturers Vow Not Call Off Strike Until…

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines Tuesday, March 25th, 2014

Oyewale Oyelola

The striking lecturers in four higher institutions owned by Osun state have vowed not to return to class until government meet their demands.

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola

The Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) Osun State Polytechnic, Iree who doubles as Public Relations Officer of The Council of Academic Staff Union of Osun State Owned Tertiary Institutions, CASUOSTI, Mr. Dotun Omisore made this declaration in phone chat with African Examiner correspondent on the on-going strike.

According to him; ” We have declared strike action on February 17, 2014, there is no going back on our decision. The meeting with government ended in deadlock as they failed to meet our demands.

“Our demands include; retirement age, we want government to increase retirement age to 65years from 60years; Contributing Pension scheme, we want government to suspend it due to inconsistent remittance; employment of staff, many departments are under staff and this is affect quality because there are a lot work load on available staff.

“We also want government to pay us full salary because for now government is paying us 90 percent of our salary. They are sub changing our present and future with that. The last one is about the bogus tax deduction.”

Omisore disclosed that state of Osun representatives at the last meeting stated the 65years retirement age has been approved at state executive council level and State house of Assembly need to pass it to law for implementation.

On Contributory pension scheme, Osunpoly ASUP Chairman explained that the law states, employee and employer will contribute 7.5percent each but we discovered that government are not remiting up to 15 percent. He added the state government also failed to remit the pension contribution as at when due.

“On the issue of pension, government are not remitting up to 15 percent and the remittance are not done as at when due. According government record, the last remittance was in June , 2013 but our checks from pension administrators revealed they have not pay up to June,2013″. He explained.

He added issue of life assurance as formed part of their demands noted that government has promised employ more staff.

Omisore however frowned as government claim that the issue of contributory pension scheme suppose not to lead to strike action. ” State of Osun government said we ought not embark on strike action because contributory pension scheme. My question is pension not part of staff welfare? Pension issue is very key aspect of staff welfare”. He said.

Meanwhile, government has however urged lecturers to suspend the strike and continue negotiation.

It would be recalled that students from four tertiary institutions namely; Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, College of Technology, Esa-oke, College of Education in Ila-orangun and Ilesa had stage several protest to express their displeasure over the on-going strike.