An order mandating striking workers of the Akwa Ibom State University to resume work or risk their salaries have been defied by the institution’s branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and other unions in the institution.
The workers have been on strike for about two months following the inability of the University management to pay them their full salaries and other entitlements.
The Vice Chancellor Prof Nse Essien had through the Registrar Mr John Udoh issued a notice mandating all staff to resume work on Monday or risk forfeiting their salaries
“The Vice-Chancellor has directed all staff members of Akwa Ibom State University to return to their duty posts by Monday, June 07, 2021 and that payment of salaries from the month of June 2021 will be based on “no work no pay” Government policy.
“The Vice-Chancellor has appealed to all members of staff to comply accordingly.” The release said.
It was gathered that following the release, students reported back to the two campus but were reportedly sent back at the gate by the Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated institutions (NASU), and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
But witnesses told newsmen that students were not allowed to enter the school premises even as some of them at Obio Akpa campus lamented that they did not finish with their second semester examination when the lecturers embarked on the strike.
One of them who preferred to remain unnamed for fear of victimisation said, “I just came to school this morning because of the announcement that we should resume today, but the whole ennvironment is dry.
“When I arrived at the school gate, I met some lecturers and they told me that I should go home because they are not returning to the classroom until they are paid.
“The Vice Chancellor just ordered the lecturers to commence academic activities but they are saying no salary, no work. But our concern is that thieves have started breaking into students rented rooms off campus, and stealing students things.
“It is a serious situation. Some students locked their rooms and traveled because of the strike, because we don’t have hostel accommodation here.” She stated.
Governor Udom Emmanuel had in response to the strike by the unions in recent media chat last month said he releases N329 million every month to the management of the institution.
But the University ASUU Chairman, Dr Ime Okop, said its members would remain on strike as long as they are not paid their salaries and other entitlements, adding that the lecturers were not prepared to shift grounds on the matter.
Okop frowned at the situation where both the state government and the management of the university were playing pranks with the issue of education.
“What the governor went on air to say is not what we will contest, it is left for the management to explain. What we know is that the university has been receiving the sum of N250 million as monthly subvention as at 2019.
“So, if the state government has increased it to N329 million, it is left for the management to explain, and let us know when the amount was increased.
“We are asking for our salaries to be paid in full and other allowances. We have been receiving haIf salaries, percentage salaries, and you cannot tell which month you were paid or not.
“That they sent security men to forcefully open the gate would not solve the problem. Now that they have succeeded in opening the gate, would they also force us to resume lectures?” He queried.
It would be recalled that the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Nse Essien had also last month assured the State House of Assembly that the institution was going to resume academic activities.
However, findings revealed that as at Monday, May 24, when salaries were paid, the lecturers only received half salaries.
This was against resolutions reached between the government and the striking workers which included immediate payment of three months backlog of 25 per cent salary arrears to staff of AKSU for January, February and March 2020, stoppage of payment of 75 per cent salaries; and constitution of a Visitation Panel by the Governor and Visitor of the University, Udom Emmanuel.
