Subsidy hardship: Ondo Tertiary Institution workers seek inclusion in palliatives

….say they are worst hit by petrol subsidy removal

As fuel subsidy removal continues to take roll on Nigerians, the Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association Of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), National Association Of Academic Technologists and Senior Staff Association Of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) of the Ondo State Owned Tertiary institutions want the government to extend the palliatives to their members.

In a statement signed by their Chairman, Tayo Ogungbeni said tertiary institution workers in the state received the news of the proposed distribution of palliative measures across various strata in Ondo State with mixed feelings.

Though commended the government for being proactive in ameliorating/mitigating the harsh effect of subsidy removal and the attendant astronomical increase in transportation and cost of living generally, they observed that Ondo State Owned Tertiary Institutions were not mentioned as beneficiaries of palliative measures rolled out.

“You may wish to note without mincing words that the staff of Ondo State Tertiary Institutions are worst hit by the removal of petrol subsidy as our salaries are not paid regularly, hence, we are all living from hand to mouth.

“We are sure it will sadden your heart to know that even the 2019 Minimum Wage that has been implemented to all the state workers since January 2020 has not been paid in any tertiary institution in Ondo State.

“We would not bother you with the debt profile of our institutions in terms of other allowances and third party deductions such as Cooperatives and check off dues”, the statement read in part.

The workers said Managements of various institutions in the state are grappling with augmentation of payment of salaries with internally generated revenue which are not even enough to meet up with necessary services the money are needed for. Notably, these monies are attached to services but were yet spent to augment salaries to keep the workers alive.

We therefore plead and pray for:

1. A hundred percent increase in the subvention across the tertiary institutions in Ondo State.

2. Release of special bail-out fund to clear our outstanding allowances and deductions.

3.Release of budgeted capital grants.

4. Extension of metropolitan buses to tertiary institutions across the state.

“We hope that the Acting Governor, the State Executive Council and particularly the Chairman of Ondo State Palliatives Committee and Commissioner of Finance to use their good offices to intervene and see to our concern and plight. We should not be left out of this palliative measures this time around, please.

“We hope to receive a favorable response in this regard, please.”