…Tertiary institutions yet to receive minimum wage, 8months after Oyo began implementation
The seeming jolly relationship between workers in Oyo State-owned tertiary institutions and the State Government seemed to be heading for the rocks, OYO INSIGHT can exclusively report.
The brewing tension is on the reduction in the subvention sent to the tertiary institutions, part of which is used to defray arrears of unpaid salaries, which began under the Ajimobi Government.
It will be recalled that the Ajimobi Government had slashed subventions to the tertiary Institutions by 75%, sometimes around 2016, paying a little around 25% monthly, majority of which was even irregular. Government’s claim as at then, was that the recession which badly hit the Nigerian economy, had created a huge dent in Government’s finances.
This ding-dong continued preparatory to the 2019 Governorship Election, with majority of the opposition party candidates lambasting the Ajimobi Government for what they termed “unfriendly, irresponsible and a devilish attack” on the fundamental rights of those workers. They then promised heaven and earth, should they be opportune to get to power.
On his part, Governor Seyi Makinde, then candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had pledged to the Joint Action Committee (JAC), an amalgam of staff unions in the six state-owned tertiary institutions, to, if voted in, defray the arrears in full, aside prompt payment of salaries.
Though the Ajimobi Government commenced restoration of 100% to the affected workers before leaving office, it was the Makinde Government that began payment of the arrears.
OYO INSIGHT learnt that it was therefore surprising, when workers received alerts for August salaries, only to notice reduction of the arrears to around 40-30%, without any explanation from Government.
Workers in the institutions who spoke on condition of anonymity expressed displeasure with Government’s action, noting that, that amounted to a gradual withdrawal of campaign promises, and a stylish way of stopping the payment all together.
“Despite being the only sector in the state civil and public service not yet enjoying the minimum wage, we’re surprised the Makinde Government can reduce our arrears, without any cogent explanation”, some of the workers, afraid of ensuing victimisation and reprimand, due to the sensitive nature of the issue, informed OYO INSIGHT.
As it is, it appears the industrial harmony in the state-owned tertiary institutions may be heading for the rocks, should the Oyo State Government not rescind this decision as workers, despite pleadings from their respective Managements, remain unhappy.
However, a top government official who did not want name in print said that “government’s defence is that some institutions which had not been receiving arrears had complained, and in a bit to cover them, it had to reduce funds from those already receiving.”
