Aggrieved workers’ unions at three state-owned tertiary institutions in Ondo State have suspended their four-week industrial action over unpaid allowances and the implementation of agreements with the Federal Government.
The suspension followed a financial intervention by the state government, led by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in the dispute that led to the strike.
The suspension affects workers under the Joint Action Committee of Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions (JAC-ODSTI) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
The affected institutions are Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA), Akungba-Akoko; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa; and the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo.
The Chairman of the AAUA branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Boluwaji Oshodi, confirmed the suspension of the strike in a telephone interview with The Nation in Akure on Monday.
‘Yes, I can confirm that the strike has been suspended,’ Mr Oshodi told our reporter.
He said the workers at the state-owned tertiary institutions have been directed to resume work today (Tuesday, September 29).
The Chairman and the Secretary of JAC-ODSTI, Tayo Ogungbeni and Kunle Akinwonmi, respectively, also announced the suspension in a statement.
The unions said the decision followed Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s intervention in the dispute.
They commended Aiyedatiwa, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Igbekele Ajibefun, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Union Matters, Bola Taiwo, for their roles in resolving the crisis.
The unions also acknowledged the contributions of members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and other members of the public.
However, the workers warned that some aspects of the dispute remained unresolved.
They specifically urged the managements of the three universities to immediately address the non-financial components of the agreements reached between the Federal Government and the university-based unions.
‘We are also using this medium to appeal to the Management of the various Universities to take immediate action to address the non-financial aspects of the FGN/Unions Agreement without any further delay to avoid an unwarranted strike in our institutions,’ the statement said.
The strike followed disagreements over unpaid allowances and the implementation of wage-related agreements, among other demands.