KSU: Strike Continues As Lecturers Insist On Implementation of All Demands
The industrrial action that has paralysed academic activities in Kogi State University since the 3rd of February 2017 may not end anytime soon as lecturers of the state own university insist the State government must implement all their demands before going back to class.
In a press conference by the Academic Staff Union of the University (ASUU) , tagged "ASUU-KSU Press Conference: A Struggle FOR The Restoration Of The Integrity And Autonomy Of Kogi State University, Anyigba", the lecturers accused the state government of not being sincere with her approach.
The press release reads thus:
Gentlemen of the press In our previous press conferences, we highlighted the lack of sincerity in ‘Benefits of doubt, trust and credibility', a sobriquet coined by the ‘choristers’ of the present administration in Kogi State to deceive and whittle down our agitations for the right things to be done. On the 24th of September, 2016 and 4th of February 2017, we made presentations on issues relating to ‘Benefits of doubt, trust and credibility’ and ‘Restoration of the Integrity and Autonomy’ of Kogi State University, Anyigba, respectively. All these were in a bid to ensure industrial harmony within the University system. ASUU-KSU has had to embark on a struggle in pursuance of these issues as the Union's calls and pleas for prompt intervention were treated with levity. The government’s propaganda machinery tilted the perceptions of the general public against ASUU.
ASUU is used to being blackmailed by repressive forces but the Union has always come out stronger and more resolute. The history of Nigeria’s educational system cannot be written without ASUU being acknowledged as a strong pillar in its building and sustenance. Deterioration of Working Conditions in Kogi State University, Anyigba.
We have at various fora expressed grave concerns about the consistently deteriorating working conditions of the Academic staff in KSU, Anyigba with the consequent mass exodus of staff. While we were embarking on the current action, ASUU-KSU hinged its demands on two factors that are very crucial to the smooth running of academic activities in the Ivory Tower. These are: (1) Reconstitution of the Governing Council of the University and (2) Payment of all arrears of salaries to all categories of our members.
It is commendable that Government has reconstituted the Governing Council, but the more serious issue of payment of arrears of salaries to all categories of our members has not been addressed. During its inaugural meeting on Friday, 24th of March 2017, ASUU suggested to the Governing Council to, among other issues, expedite action on the resolution of the uncleared staff as well as payment of arrears of salaries. This was to create a pathway for the amicable resolution of all outstanding issues before the 24th of April 2017.
ASUU’s suggestion would seem to have been jettisoned. This is because while staff of other tertiary institutions in Kogi State who have been on strike, have received their February and March 2017 salaries, those of KSU, Anyigba. are yet to be paid.
Funding
In 2014, the Kogi State Government budgeted N3,282,999,355.00 for KSU, Anyigba, but released only N2,288,325,637.80, representing a deficiency of 30.3%. In 2015, out of the N3,093,745,326.00 budgeted for KSU, Anyigba, only N2,288,326,637.00 was released, leaving a deficit of 26.0% while in 2016 under the present government, the budgeted amount was N3,476,088,597.00 but the amount released was only N1,992,346,651.28. The difference in the budget cum actual release was 42.7%. These budgeted sums alone, represented 3.2%, 11.2% and 9.1% deficits of the respective years’ annual emoluments to staff.
Infrastructural and staff development in the University have almost always been through the TETFund and NEEDS Assessment interventions, which in themselves, are the brain children of ASUU struggles.
Irregular payment of salaries Since 2014, the Kogi State Government has never paid the staff monthly salary in full. The University administration has had to augment the recurrent short falls from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Even this amputated salary wage bill has become erratic.
The Government must be told that the propaganda on salary payment is a ruse because artisans, traders and the business environment of the state do not enjoy the patronage that naturally flourishes when workers are paid. It is pathetic that economic activities have been seriously hampered in Kogi State due to the nonpayment of salaries occasioned by the long-drawn and tortuous staff screening exercises. Many parents whose children and wards have been at home since the strike action commenced are yet to be paid their salaries.
To date, several of our members have not received salary since June, 2016. In fact, all staff of Kogi State University, Anyigba have not received their February and March 2017 salaries. Neither the Government nor the University Administration has provided any explanation for the nonpayment. With the conclusion of the last phase of the staff screening exercise, ASUU-KSU hopes that all issues relating to non-payment of salaries would be promptly and adequately laid to rest.
Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) Component of our Salary
The payment of the 2009-2014 EAA for academic staff of KSU, Anyigba, has been in arrears. It is commendable that the present Government commenced the monthly installmental payment with effect from September, 2016. However, the monthly tranche of N50M has not been paid since January, 2017.
On the 2014/2015 arrears of EAA, the Kogi State University Management has only paid an insignificant fraction, leaving a huge chunk of the arrears yet to be paid.
Peaceful protests by students
The seeming lack of commitment and insensitivity by the Kogi State Government towards the resolution of the lingering issues embedded in the strike action may have informed the decision by students of tertiary institutions in the state to take their destinies in their hands by embarking on peaceful protests to draw attention to their plight. However, these peaceful protests were needlessly scuttled. ASUU therefore, condemns in totality the disruption of the protests and the subsequent arrest, rough handling and detention of some of the protesters by overzealous security agents.
Our Resolve For the avoidance of doubt, ASUU-KSU wishes to emphasize that the ongoing strike can only be suspended when the following demands are met:
1. All issues relating to arrears of salaries, 2015 employment, Contract and Sabbatical staff, must be holistically addressed.
2. Government must resume the monthly installmental payment of the 2009-2014 arrears of EAA.
3. The Kogi State University management must pay up the outstanding balance of the 2014/2015 arrears of the EAA.
Aluta Continua Victoria Acerta
Dr. Daniel O. Aina Ag. Chairperson
In a press conference by the Academic Staff Union of the University (ASUU) , tagged "ASUU-KSU Press Conference: A Struggle FOR The Restoration Of The Integrity And Autonomy Of Kogi State University, Anyigba", the lecturers accused the state government of not being sincere with her approach.
The press release reads thus:
Gentlemen of the press In our previous press conferences, we highlighted the lack of sincerity in ‘Benefits of doubt, trust and credibility', a sobriquet coined by the ‘choristers’ of the present administration in Kogi State to deceive and whittle down our agitations for the right things to be done. On the 24th of September, 2016 and 4th of February 2017, we made presentations on issues relating to ‘Benefits of doubt, trust and credibility’ and ‘Restoration of the Integrity and Autonomy’ of Kogi State University, Anyigba, respectively. All these were in a bid to ensure industrial harmony within the University system. ASUU-KSU has had to embark on a struggle in pursuance of these issues as the Union's calls and pleas for prompt intervention were treated with levity. The government’s propaganda machinery tilted the perceptions of the general public against ASUU.
ASUU is used to being blackmailed by repressive forces but the Union has always come out stronger and more resolute. The history of Nigeria’s educational system cannot be written without ASUU being acknowledged as a strong pillar in its building and sustenance. Deterioration of Working Conditions in Kogi State University, Anyigba.
We have at various fora expressed grave concerns about the consistently deteriorating working conditions of the Academic staff in KSU, Anyigba with the consequent mass exodus of staff. While we were embarking on the current action, ASUU-KSU hinged its demands on two factors that are very crucial to the smooth running of academic activities in the Ivory Tower. These are: (1) Reconstitution of the Governing Council of the University and (2) Payment of all arrears of salaries to all categories of our members.
It is commendable that Government has reconstituted the Governing Council, but the more serious issue of payment of arrears of salaries to all categories of our members has not been addressed. During its inaugural meeting on Friday, 24th of March 2017, ASUU suggested to the Governing Council to, among other issues, expedite action on the resolution of the uncleared staff as well as payment of arrears of salaries. This was to create a pathway for the amicable resolution of all outstanding issues before the 24th of April 2017.
ASUU’s suggestion would seem to have been jettisoned. This is because while staff of other tertiary institutions in Kogi State who have been on strike, have received their February and March 2017 salaries, those of KSU, Anyigba. are yet to be paid.
Funding
In 2014, the Kogi State Government budgeted N3,282,999,355.00 for KSU, Anyigba, but released only N2,288,325,637.80, representing a deficiency of 30.3%. In 2015, out of the N3,093,745,326.00 budgeted for KSU, Anyigba, only N2,288,326,637.00 was released, leaving a deficit of 26.0% while in 2016 under the present government, the budgeted amount was N3,476,088,597.00 but the amount released was only N1,992,346,651.28. The difference in the budget cum actual release was 42.7%. These budgeted sums alone, represented 3.2%, 11.2% and 9.1% deficits of the respective years’ annual emoluments to staff.
Infrastructural and staff development in the University have almost always been through the TETFund and NEEDS Assessment interventions, which in themselves, are the brain children of ASUU struggles.
Irregular payment of salaries Since 2014, the Kogi State Government has never paid the staff monthly salary in full. The University administration has had to augment the recurrent short falls from its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Even this amputated salary wage bill has become erratic.
The Government must be told that the propaganda on salary payment is a ruse because artisans, traders and the business environment of the state do not enjoy the patronage that naturally flourishes when workers are paid. It is pathetic that economic activities have been seriously hampered in Kogi State due to the nonpayment of salaries occasioned by the long-drawn and tortuous staff screening exercises. Many parents whose children and wards have been at home since the strike action commenced are yet to be paid their salaries.
To date, several of our members have not received salary since June, 2016. In fact, all staff of Kogi State University, Anyigba have not received their February and March 2017 salaries. Neither the Government nor the University Administration has provided any explanation for the nonpayment. With the conclusion of the last phase of the staff screening exercise, ASUU-KSU hopes that all issues relating to non-payment of salaries would be promptly and adequately laid to rest.
Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) Component of our Salary
The payment of the 2009-2014 EAA for academic staff of KSU, Anyigba, has been in arrears. It is commendable that the present Government commenced the monthly installmental payment with effect from September, 2016. However, the monthly tranche of N50M has not been paid since January, 2017.
On the 2014/2015 arrears of EAA, the Kogi State University Management has only paid an insignificant fraction, leaving a huge chunk of the arrears yet to be paid.
Peaceful protests by students
The seeming lack of commitment and insensitivity by the Kogi State Government towards the resolution of the lingering issues embedded in the strike action may have informed the decision by students of tertiary institutions in the state to take their destinies in their hands by embarking on peaceful protests to draw attention to their plight. However, these peaceful protests were needlessly scuttled. ASUU therefore, condemns in totality the disruption of the protests and the subsequent arrest, rough handling and detention of some of the protesters by overzealous security agents.
Our Resolve For the avoidance of doubt, ASUU-KSU wishes to emphasize that the ongoing strike can only be suspended when the following demands are met:
1. All issues relating to arrears of salaries, 2015 employment, Contract and Sabbatical staff, must be holistically addressed.
2. Government must resume the monthly installmental payment of the 2009-2014 arrears of EAA.
3. The Kogi State University management must pay up the outstanding balance of the 2014/2015 arrears of the EAA.
Aluta Continua Victoria Acerta
Dr. Daniel O. Aina Ag. Chairperson
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