By Demilade Adeniyi
A House of Representatives candidate on the platform of People's Democratic Party, (PDP), in Ogun State, Toyin Amuzu has berated the federal government and the Ogun State government for their failure to protect the welfare and interests of Nigerian workers.
Amuzu who is vying to represent Abeokuta South Federal Constituency at the lower Chambers of the National Assembly was speaking on the lingering strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, (SSANU) and the Ogun State workers.
He said "it is so disheartening to see that such strikes caused by the 'I don't care attitude' of those in government is affecting the youths, our children and other members of the society, especially as it concerns the education and health sectors".
The PDP candidate said, "any good government must be responsible to the people, thus the two tiers of government as a matter of urgency, must rise to the challenges of meeting the demands of the workers before the collapse of every sectors of the system".
According to him, "no responsible government would allow its labour force to down tools for so long and not be worried. Are they not realizing this would also affect our economy? Is it not the responsibility of government to protect its workers? For how long would they toil with the future of our youth? Amuzu asked.
Amuzu explained that , "Workers in Ogun state have declared an indefinite strike over the alleged refusal of the state government to pay their 21-month salary deductions. They are also protesting what they termed the “government’s insensitivity to workers’ welfare.”
"ASUU had been on strike since February 14, while SSANU’s strike started with a warning strike of two weeks, which commenced on March 27".
Amuzu also explained that some of the demands of SSANU include the inconsistent issue of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), unpaid earned allowances, and delay in the renegotiation of FGN, SSANU, Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and allied institutions (NASU) agreements, and non-payment of minimum wage arrears.
Others include neglect and poor funding of state universities, non-payment of retirement benefits to outgoing members of the unions, and usurpation of the headship of non-teaching units in clear violation of conditions of service and establishment procedures, among others.
ASUU’s demands on its path include the release of revitalisation funds for universities, renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU agreement, release of earned allowances for university lecturers, and deployment of the Universities Transparency and Accountability System (UTAS) for payment of salaries and allowances of university lecturers.
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