Academic and non-academic workers of
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife have lamented that the closure of
the institution has affected the payment of their June 2016 salary.
They explained that the paralysis of activities on the OAU campus has worsened their economic situation.
OAU authorities had last month shut down
the institution over the continuous protest by non academic staff of
the institution resulting from alleged illegalities in the process of
appointing a new Vice-Chancellor.
After the closure, the Federal
Government dissolved the Governing Council of the institution and
ordered that the process of appointing a new VC should be suspended
pending the outcome of a court case on the matter.
The Punch gathered that some of the non-academic staff had began to seek another means of survival by soliciting for fund.
When our correspondent sat amidst the workers on Friday, some of them complained that they had to borrow money to survive.
Sources in the university confirmed that the salaries were not paid because of the unavailability of a VC in the institution.
“Many of us have borrowed too much and
have to appeal to members of the university community for financial
assistance,” one of the non-academic staff said.
Another staff said, “I depend on my
salary. If it doesn’t come then I am in trouble like now. I even pity
the students more. I wonder what they will be doing at home.”
Also, during a meeting of the academic
staff last Wednesday, some lecturers raised the alarm over the
non-payment of their salaries.
When contacted on Saturday on the
telephone, the Public Relations Officer of the OAU, Mr. Biodun
Olarewaju, explained that there was no one to issue directive to the
University’s Bursar for salaries payment.
He said, “I think that has to do with
what is on ground. It is because there is no one at the helms of affairs
for now. There is no one to issue instruction to the bursar to process
documents for salaries payment.
“The dignity of labour will not make our
workers beg for money. I disagree that they are begging for money to
survive. The Registrar and other principal officers cannot issue
directive for salary payment because the finances of the university is
not in their care.”
Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Caleb Aborisade, when contacted said, “I am not commenting on that.”
Attempt to reach Chairmen of
Non-academic Staff Union of Universities and Senior Staff Association of
Nigerian Universities, Comrades Wole Odewunmi and Adewole Oketunde
proved abortive.
They refused to pick several calls put across to there telephones.
Source:The Punch
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