By Our Reporter
The Ondo State Government and tertiary institution unions in the state have reached an agreement on the wage dispute arising from the implementation of the new Federal Government and university unions’ wage structure and allowances.
The agreement followed a series of meetings between officials of the state government, led by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) in the state-owned universities.
At the end of the meetings, both parties agreed on a comprehensive resolution of outstanding issues relating to salary adjustments, allowances and other welfare matters.
As part of the resolutions, Governor Aiyedatiwa approved the full domestication of the Federal Government-ASUU agreement on the Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) for academic staff of state-owned universities, with implementation to reflect the peculiarities of Ondo State.
The governor, who described education as a cardinal priority of his administration, assured the unions of the government’s commitment to sustaining industrial harmony in the state’s tertiary institutions.
Aiyedatiwa said the administration would continue to prioritise workers’ welfare, particularly in the education sector, noting that a motivated workforce was essential to achieving academic excellence.
“Our administration will continue to prioritise the welfare of workers, especially in the education sector, because we understand that a motivated workforce is key to academic excellence. We have approved the FGN-ASUU pact for our universities because we want our institutions to compete favourably and our staff to be at par with their counterparts elsewhere,” he said.
The governor added that the state government would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that the state’s tertiary institutions remained centres of excellence without incessant strike actions.
Responding on behalf of the unions, the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko chapter of ASUU commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for his listening disposition and approval of the FGN-ASUU agreement for the state-owned universities.
The union described the decision as a bold step that would boost staff morale and contribute to improved productivity.
In a letter addressed to the governor and signed by its Chairman, Prof. Boluwaji Oshodi, and Secretary, Dr Y.K. Kazeem, the union said the intervention demonstrated the governor’s commitment to workers’ welfare and conveyed a clear message that his administration was worker-friendly.
The unions pledged to reciprocate the gesture by ensuring academic stability and improved productivity in the state’s universities.
