We’re dying of hunger, Ondo varsity workers cry out

The workers of the three universities owned by the Ondo State Government are slated to commence an indefinite industrial action today.

The universities are Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA); Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology (OAUSTECH), Okitipupa; and University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo.

The notice of the strike was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) of the universities.

The statement was signed by Tayo Ogungbeni, chairman of JAC, and Kunle Akinwonmi, secretary.

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The unions said the strike was necessary to press for the payment of the N35,000 wage award announced last year by President Bola Tinubu to mitigate the effects of subsidy removal.

They noted that three tranches have been paid to other civil servants in the state.

Other issues raised by the unions apart from the N35,000 wage award include immediate implementation of the 2019 national minimum wage to OAUSTECH and UNIMED, and 100 per cent increment in the statutory subvention to all the state universities.