ABSU Staff Unions Protest 6 Months Unpaid Salaries, Says We’re Now Victims Of Humanitarian Crisis (Photos)

Members of the Staff Union of Abia state University (ABSU) including Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on Monday staged a peaceful protest over alleged non payment of 6 months salaries by the state government.

Also joined in the protest are Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU); Non-academic staff of Education and and Associated Institutions(NASU); and National Association of Academic Technologist (NAAT).

The unions in their address to newsmen said their situation is pathetic, adding that they have been reduced to victims of humanitarian crisis.

They said the alleged non payment of their salaries from April till date has made them face difficult times like those in the IDP camps.

All efforts to reach the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Ikonne as at the moment of this report proved abortive.

Read their full demands

Compatriots and Gentlemen of the Press, although the Academic Staff Union of Universities had on Monday, March 23, 2020 declared a total, comprehensive and indefinite strike action after an emergency National Executive Council meeting, the period of the commencement of the strike fell coincidentally with the announcement by the Federal Government of the indefinite closure of all schools as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on this intermeshing of two different events and actions, not many could have understood, let alone feel, that the Abia State University, Uturu Branch of ASUU joined the strike called by her national union. Furthermore, the patriotic and nationalistic participation of our members in the war against the global threat posed by Covid-19 has equally presented the impression that everything is good about the welfare of staff of the University.

In the spirit of progress and development of the environment where we find ourselves, our members volunteered themselves as frontline professionals in the quest to halt the ravages of Covid-19 which manifestation in Nigeria had sown a lot of fear and panic among the citizens.

When our colleagues were not engaged in mapping out the settlements and communities likely to face the most threat of the pandemic or producing hand sanitizers and face masks, they were researching and publishing the results of same at the Whatsapp platform exclusive to members of the union.

Thus, as recorded by The Punch newspapers and some online media, the academic staff of the Abia State University, Uturu gave a good account of themselves in demonstrating the need for a harmonious meeting of the gown and the town.

STATE OF THE UNION
Against the above backdrop and despite the enormity of the sacrifices made by members of the academic staff at the Abia State University, Uturu, it is unfortunate that none of the toiling staff received salaries due them during this period.

Whereas virtually all State Universities in Nigeria were paid salaries between April and July, 2020, ours that NEVER deemed it necessary to distribute palliatives to her staff, also starved more than 60% of the work force of their April, 2020 salaries.

With many people deprived of their April, 2020 salaries and till date, we have a pathetic situation that has reduced us to the status of the victims of the humanitarian crisis faced by some of those at the internally displaced persons refugee camps.

On 14 September, 2020, academic staff at the University, including Professors, were queuing up to collect palliatives granted them by the founder of Gregory University, Uturu. The plight of the staff of Abia State University, Uturu is such that some staff have been compelled to engage themselves in several menial jobs to supplement the proceeds from the begging they are forced to embrace.

More horrendous is that the welfare scheme that should have been our last resort to save us from starvation and the humiliation of tasting poverty and deprivation more frightening that what one encounters in Maria Corelli’s
The Sorrows of Satan is unavailable because of the seizure of our check-offs. This is contrary to the Labour Act which stresses the release of check-offs of unions within 24 hours of deduction.

This is to let the world know that despite the several labour-relations approved channels of addressing our welfare matters and bringing them up to the notice and attention of the management of the university and the Governing Council, we are still very far from the promised land. Among the different welfare matters and issues unresolved as at today include:

Non-completion of the staggered payment of the April, 2020 salaries;

Non-payment of salaries from May to August, 2020;

Non-implementation of the July-2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement resulting in arrears of 18 months (July 2009 – December 2010) amounting to Nine Hundred and Two Million, One Hundred and Sixty One Thousand, Five Hundred and Fifty Naira and Eighty Two Kobo (N902,161,550.82);

Non-release of Co-operative welfare fund amounting to Three Hundred and Sixty Eight Million Naira (N368,000,000);

Non-payment of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA).

Non payment of Gratuities

Non implementation of the new minimum wage effective from April, 2019.

Interest on 7½ % contributory pensions scheme.

Six months unremitted union check-off dues
Refund of the sum of N17 million contributed by staff for construction of shops
Three (3) years outstanding salary to staff schools teachers
Several years of outstanding gratuity owed retires.

IV. UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION AND ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT
Beyond the pathetic situation of imagining that IGR of the University is enough to tackle the challenges of financing a 21st century University, two major issues are pending here. They are:
1. Delays in the promotion of qualified staff.
2. The perpetuation of the principle of notional promotion.

V. CONCLUSION
From the above, it is very evident that no practical efforts have been made to manage the university for better labour relations and optimum productivity. Rather than engage the different unions on matters concerning staff welfare, the administration has preferred to use divisive tactics to truncate the aspirations of staff towards their struggles to get their salaries, allowances and positions merited. In conclusion, we are doubtful that our members will respond positively if school is reopened.

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Dr. V.U. Nkemdirim Mr. Ezichi Ojo
Chairman, ASUU- ABSU Chairman, SSANU-ABSU

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Mr. Canice Onuoha Mr. Okoro Ndimele
Chairman, NASU-ABSU Chairman, NAAT