Ekiti workers threaten showdown over unpaid subventions, give Fayemi ultimatum

The leadership and staff of various sub-venting institutions in Ekiti State have threatened to declare an industrial dispute with the state government over the failure to pay outstanding subventions to their institutions which stands at five months.

The institutions are ; Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Bamidele Olumilua University of Science and Technology, IKere Ekiti, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital and Ekiti State College of Health, Sciences and Technology, Ijero-Ekiti

The labour leaders under the umbrella of JOINT ACTION FOR COMMITTEE OF SUB-VENTING INSTITUTIONS” while addressing newsmen in Ado Ekiti gave Governor Kayode Fayemi 24hrs ultimatum to pay the 5 months arrears or face the wrath of the joint unions.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the chairman Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Ekiti State University Ado Ekiti, Comrade Kayode Arogundade explained that the union could no longer tolerate the deliberate disrespect for sub-venting institutions, urging stakeholders in the state to prevail on Governor Fayemi to do the needful as the union should not be blamed for any form the dispute will take.

In the statement titled ” GOVERNOR FAYEMI’S FLAGRANT REFUSAL TO DEFRAY OUR 5MONTHS OUTSTANDING SUBVENTIONS IS A KEG OF GUNPOWDER,” Arogundade explained that the refusal of the Governor to make the payment had led to unpaid salaries and thus subjecting workers to hardship.

He said, ” The sub-venting institutions in Ekiti State will like to appeal to stakeholders to help reach out to the State Governor on the need to deviate from his inept plan at destroying the state further before his exit from office.

According to Arogundade, the agitations of the group is premised on what it tagged unending deceit on monthly statutory allocation to the state, absolute abandonment of subventing institutions in the state on the altar of political mediocrity, constant delay in release of subventions, connivance with the NLC leadership in the state to sabotage their efforts and refusal to defray the 5 months outstanding subventions.

He said, “But for the intervention of all Unions across campuses and that of Tetfund, Needs assessment,
WHO, UNICEF and philanthropic gesture of some well meaning Ekiti sons and daughters, majority of our subventing institutions is no way different from glorified secondary
schools and roadside patent medicine stores.

“Who would ever think that the calibre of JKF would treat our dear State this way? We marched into this administration, with hopes, but
now, our hopes appear dashed.
Meanwhile, We still strongly hope that this government will
retrace its steps and give us an experience we can always relish after his tenure. A stitch
in time they say saves nine.

He said the group would not disclose its proposed action but it would be unexpected.

When contacted, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Information, Mr Akin Omole said the group would soon be meeting with the Governor and the outcome would be made public.