Ondo varsity workers lament 10 years’ unpaid allowances

Senior staff of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, have called on the state government and the university management to pay their outstanding allowances and other entitlements.

The workers, under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, said they were owed 124 months’ hazard allowance arrears, among other outstanding payments, which they said had negatively affected their livelihoods.

They made the demands on Thursday during the 80th Regular Zonal Executive Council Meeting of SSANU, South-West Zone, held at the university.

The development was contained in a statement made available by the union on Friday.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of SSANU-AAUA, Abiodun Ogungbeni, listed several outstanding issues requiring urgent attention.

According to him, the demands included 54 months’ arrears of the 2019 minimum wage, 11 months’ arrears of the 25/35 per cent 2023 salary adjustment, 124 months’ hazard allowance arrears, as well as outstanding promotional and incremental arrears dating back to 2023.

He also demanded the payment of excess workload allowances for 2015–2019, outstanding third-party deductions, including about 37 months owed to cooperative societies, July 2026 salary, two tranches owed reabsorbed staff, as well as gratuities and pension entitlements of retired workers from 2008 to date.

Ogungbeni said, “We desire a holistic review of the Senior Staff Career Structure to reflect present realities in Nigerian universities. The current structure has stagnated the career progression of our members, and it is unheard of that there is no CONTISS 15 staff in this university when there are many qualified staff for such positions.”

He also called for the full implementation of the monetary and non-monetary provisions of the 2026 SSANU/FGN agreement, including outstanding benefits from January 2026, and urged the management to ensure the payment of August salaries without conditions.

He said, “I wish to state that our administration has done a lot to ensure better welfare for the staff of this University. It was through our efforts that 65/70 years retirement age was implemented, we fought for the payment of the #35,000 wage award, we also ensured that the withheld January, 2017 subvention was released.

“And recently, 143 members of staff benefited from Conversion exercise into various cadres and 13 Deputy Registrars as well as 5 Deputy Bursars were appointed which was the first time such a large appointment was made in our university.

“All these achievements were made because of the massive support and commitment of our Congress. I’m also grateful to the immediate past Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olugbenga E. Ige and our new Vice Chancellor, Prof. T.M. Obamuyi who assumed duty beforelong and opened the University maingate which had been closed for almost 5 years,” he added.

In his remarks, the National Vice President and Chairman of SSANU, South-West Zone, Abdussobur Salaam, urged the state government to intervene in the financial challenges confronting the university and facilitate the payment of outstanding workers’ entitlements.

Salaam said, “We noted the issues of arrears, payments, allowances and salaries being owed members of staff, not only SSANU members but also members of other unions in the university.

“We therefore call on the Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to intervene and ensure that these outstanding payments owed members of staff are settled without further delay, especially in the spirit of the progressive leadership he has given the state.”

The SSANU zonal chairman also urged members of the union to remain committed to their duties and contribute meaningfully to the development of the university.

He called on the leadership of ASUU, SSANU, NASU and NAT to strengthen collaboration for the growth of the institution and the welfare of workers.

In his reaction, the Vice-Chancellor of AAUA, Prof. Tomola Obamuyi, assured the association that the management would examine the issues raised with a view to finding lasting solutions.

“The issue raised by the union will be looked into and appropriate step would be taken to resolve the problem,” the Vice-Chancellor stated.

Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Ondo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Leke Adegbite, who was honoured at the meeting, appreciated the association for the recognition and pledged that journalists would continue to use their profession to correct societal ills.

He expressed optimism that the financial challenges confronting the university would eventually be resolved, urging the state government and university management to continue supporting education.