Posted by By Elyger Agwu on
The Rivers State University of Science and Technology chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared that it will embark on an indefinite strike, if the arrears of benefits owed her members by the Rivers State Government are not paid before July 18.
The Rivers State University of Science and Technology chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has declared that it will embark on an indefinite strike, if the arrears of benefits owed her members by the Rivers State Government are not paid before July 18.
The body made this declaration in a press conference held at the staff club of the institution on Wednesday.
Address newsmen, the chapter chairman of the union, Engr. Ayebaesia Dienegha explained that the lecturers' decision to take the line of action is as a result of the non-implementation of the new University Academic Staff Salary (UASS) since May 2001 as well as that of the monetization of fringe benefits approved since 2003.
Engr. Dienegha said that the ultimatum became necessary following the breach of agreement reached last March with the state government, which made the lecturers shelved their planned strike. The chairman accused the state Commissioner for Finance, Chief Kenneth Kobani for flaunting the state governor's approval for the said payment alleging that Chief Kobani has a different agenda.
The academic remarked that the body had at a point called on the commissioner for proper negotiation but was disappointed with his insistence that the arrears be waved aside if the state must implement the new policy. Engr. Dienegha, therefore, warned that the second semester examination of the school expected to begin on July 18 will not be conducted until their demands are met.
He, however, advised that if the arrears could not be paid at once, it can be on instalment. According to him, "The only thing that will stop this action is for the finance commissioner to arrange and pay the difference of salary.
"We want the government to discuss immediately with ASUU so that the mode of payment will be reached. We are ready to negotiate for instalmental payment of the arrears," he said.
From investigation carried out, it was discovered that the Rivers State University of Science and Technology is the only institution that has not implemented the new UASS.
This publication also gathered that the Bayelsa state indigenes in the school have been paid theirs by their state government while the Rivers indigenes also in the same school are being denied payment.