Strike looms in Ojukwu University over unpaid salaries

Industrial action is imminent at the Anambra State-owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, following arrears of salaries owed lecturers of the institution.

Another contentious issue capable of causing industrial disharmony in the university is the Staff Audit Panel set up by the state government for the verification of workers.

Anambra State Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities of the university, have been at daggers drawn as a result of the panel.

The audit requires all lecturers, including those on study leave abroad, to physically appear before the panel for verification.

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But the leadership of ASUU in the university saw the exercise as a ploy aimed at a witch-hunting its members.

As a result, the varsity’s branch of ASUU held a meeting on Thursday, instructing its members not to fill the audit forms to avoid being entrapped in any form or manner.

A source told Southern City News that government’s objective for the audit was to reduce staff strength of the university because of dwindling resources.

The state government had recently reduced subvention to the university from N90m to N80m per month while ASUU did not take the development lightly.

A source in the university, who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “The current face-off between the state government and ASUU will likely lead to another strike if the situation is not properly handled because that is the only language the government can hear in this type of situation.”

“The decision of government to give us forms to fill for the audit is unnecessary at this particular moment. We are talking of our salaries not being regular since the former governor, Peter Obi, left office and somebody is talking of filling unnecessary forms.

“As we are talking, the August salary has not been paid to us, while the July one was recently paid. They are looking for ghost workers, which I think we do not have here.

“This institution started suffering since former Governor Peter Obi left office and you can see that the standard of education has fallen in a state that used to be first. It (Anambra) came 10th in NECO and WAEC examinations this year.”

However, efforts to speak with the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Emmanuel Nnubia, proved abortive as he did not respond to several calls put across to him through his mobile phone.

When the State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha, was contacted through the phone for her reaction, she said, “Please I’m busy now, let’s talk later.”