Members of the Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igboora have commended Governor Seyi Makinde for constituting the governing councils of state-owned tertiary institutions.
OYOINSIGHT.COM recalls that Makinde, in July, announced the new chairman and members of the governing council of all six state-owned tertiary institutions.
In a letter of appreciation to the governor made available to newsmen, the NASU branch commended the governor”over efforts towards re-positioning the College.”
However, the labour union urged the governor to provide more assistance to the institution so that it can meet the basic requirements for resource inspection visitation to new programmes and renewal of the various programmes that are due for re-accreditation by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The letter read in part: “The leadership and the entire members of the Non-Academic Staff Union(NASU),Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology,Igboora,hereby express our sincere appreciation to His Excellency,Engr.Seyi Makinde, the Governor of Oyo State,over the recent constitution of the Governing Council of all tertiary institutions in the state .With the new Council in place,it is hoped that the institution will witness unprecedented achievements and greater successes in teaching, research and community development services.With the caliber of people appointed by Your Excellency as members of the Governing Council of our institution,we are convinced that you are truly a visionary leader .
“We wish to equally use this opportunity to thank Your Excellency for readiness,interest and for promise made to ensure full implementation of the new minimum wage as appropriate for all tertiary institutions in the State forthwith.It is our prayer that the state government begins the payment of the new minimum wage salary scale prepared and agreed upon by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of all tertiary institutions in the state.
III)In the same vein,we acknowledge with thanks the continuous payment of our salary arrears of 2016 and 2017 which is still ongoing, while praying that Your Excellency gives favourable consideration to payment of outstanding balance of our salary arrrears of 2018 and January to March 2019 that were not captured in the annual appropriation by the past administration in the state.
“We wish to reiterate that the refusal of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to visit our institution for the purpose of re-accreditation of various programmes with lapsed accreditation status was not unconnected with the issue of outstanding salary arrrears.It is important to emphasize with this current reality in mind that without the renewal of the lapsed accreditation status of the various programmes that are due for re-accreditation, there is likelihood that the institution would be black listed by our Supervisory Agency,that is, the National Board for the Education.
“While the Union remains grateful for continuous support to the institution,we still wish to appeal to His Excellency on the need for further assistance to the institution so that we can meet the basic requirements for resource inspection visitation to new programmes and renewal of the various programmes that are due for re-accreditation by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).We are also not unmindful of the institution’s peculiarities, constraints and other challenges that could not allow the institution to generate sufficient funds through internal sources to be able to meet the accreditation needs giving our current low students enrollment. rates.
“On a final note,we are indeed impressed as a trade Union that Your Excellency has been keeping to your promises particularly with adequate care and attention which your administration has been paying to welfare of students and staff of tertiary institutions in the state.
“Hence,we appreciate the priority attention which the Oyo State government is paying generally to education development, agriculture and youth empowerment.”
