BY OKHIDE EM’YA DAVID
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma Chapter, has suspended its 66 day-old strike action over unpaid salaries for several months and more than 1 year unpaid check-off dues and other sundry deductions from salaries in the institution.
ASUU announced the suspension yesterday, following a Memorandum of Action (MoA), between it and University Administration after several engagements, according to a statement, signed by Dr. Monday Igbafen and Dr. Anthony Coker-Aizebioje, Chairperson and Secretary respectively of the organization.
The University’s chapter of ASUU began the strike action on March 25, this year to press for the payment of unpaid wages/emoluments, check-off dues and other sundry deductions from the salaries of staff in the institution.
At its meeting of Monday May 31, 2021, where the MoA was received and discussed, the Congress of the University’s ASUU resolved to accept the said MoA and subsequently suspended its strike action, effective same day.
Consequent on the above, the Union directed its members to return to work without further delay.
In the statement, the Union gave the details of the MoA to include: That the Government will meet its obligation of paying the first tranche of the outstanding emoluments to the staff of the University within the week.
The first tranche constitutes a minimum of two months full (gross) salaries (January and February, 2021) as well as two months of outstanding check-off dues and other sundry deductions (April and May, 2020).That the first tranche be paid in the first week of June, 2021.
The remaining emolument (salaries, check-off dues and other sundry deductions) shall be paid on or before the 30th of June 2021. No member of the Union will be victimized because of the strike action.
If the above condition is breached within the specified period, the strike action shall resume without notice.
The Union, however, advised against the breach of the said MoA in the interest of sustained industrial peace in the institution, while appreciating the resilience of members, the patience of students and parents during the period of the suspended strike action.
