The Ondo State Government and unions in the state-owned universities have reached an agreement to resolve the lingering dispute over the implementation of the new wage structure and allowances for tertiary institution workers.
The agreement followed a series of meetings between 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 a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Monday, the meetings produced a comprehensive resolution of outstanding issues relating to salary adjustments, allowances and other welfare matters.
As part of the agreement, Governor Aiyedatiwa approved the full domestication of the Federal Government-ASUU agreement on CONUASS for academic staff of state-owned universities, with implementation to take into account the peculiarities of the state.
The governor described education as a cardinal priority of his administration and assured workers and the unions of his commitment to sustaining industrial harmony across the state's tertiary institutions.
“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,” Aiyedatiwa was quoted as saying.
He added that the state government would continue to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure that its tertiary institutions remain centres of excellence without incessant industrial actions.
Responding on behalf of the unions, the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko chapter of ASUU commended the governor for what it described as his listening disposition and approval of the FGN-ASUU agreement for state universities.
The union described the decision as a bold and commendable step that would boost staff morale and contribute to improved productivity.
In a letter addressed to the governor and signed by its Secretary, Dr Y.K. Kazeem, the union said the intervention demonstrated the governor's commitment to workers' welfare and sent a clear message that his administration was workers-friendly.
The unions also pledged to reciprocate the government's gesture by ensuring academic stability and improved productivity across the universities.
The agreement is expected to strengthen industrial harmony and provide a framework for addressing outstanding wage and welfare concerns in Ondo State's tertiary institutions.
