THE Academic Staff Union of Universities and other unions in the University of Ibadan have now drawn a battle line with the school management over part payment of their salaries and arrears from January 2016 to May. The Chairman Academic Staff of Universities, (ASUU) University of Ibadan Chapter Dr Deji Omole disclosed yesterday that the unions had endured enough and “reached elastic limit and resolve to receive their full salaries from the Federal Government and not to receive part-payment of their salaries again.”

The union chairman stated that the President Mohammadu Buhari led federal government implemented the hike in fuel price while starving workers of their salaries. While demanding full payment of salries and arrears of five months owed his members, Omole stressed that the UI ASUU had told the Vice Chancellor to pay all staff in full in May and not part-payment saying life had become difficult for Nigerians in general. He said, “Since January 2016, salaries have not been paid in full and deduction were not remitted and we have been showing understanding because we were told things will change once the budget is signed by the president but immediately after signing the budget ‎he implemented increment is fuel pump price rather than meeting our welfare needs. But when the Vice chancellor us to a meeting last Thursday and said he received same shortfall.

We have now reached our elastic limit. We can no longer continue. That was what happened in some states till today they cannot pay their salaries. We are putting a stop to it. Nothing is better than nonsense.” “Enough is enough. If the salaries and arrears are not ready, the university should not bother to pay. Why will National Assembly members collect their monies doing little for the country while intellectuals and masses will not be paid at all or paid-in-part?” Reacting, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof Abel Idowu Olayinka explained that the Federal Government is presently owing the institution the sum of N782million as shortfall on personnel cost.

He hinted further that the shortfall had compelled the university not to be able to pay full salaries and remit full deductions to staff unions and cooperatives. Professor Olayinka who assumed office six months ago, noted that the drastic shortfall in the overhead cost was creating crisis‎ of meeting utility needs of staff and students. On the epileptic power supply which resulted in students’ violent protest five weeks ago, he lamented that the university needed about N1billion to meet its overhead expenses. He added that the federal cost allocates N140m monthly which hardly can pay cleaning services.

Source: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/06/646935/