By Onoja Johnson Baba
In response to the the governor’s message delivered by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Ayoade Folashade Arike in a meeting held on the 28th June, 2016 at the SSG conference room in the state capital, Lokoja, the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Kogi State University chapter has said it would continue on the “no pay, no work” action embarked upon 78days ago.
This was made known after it held a congress today on the university campus Anyigba.
According to a news story released by a member of the union, Mr. Ottah Gabriel, on his facebook timeline today, the lecturers unanimously resolved to continue the strike action until the state government pays the salaries owing them in full.
Mr. Ottah wrote, “The Kogi State University Anyigba chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says the already 78-days old strike it embarked on following non payment of salaries and allowances by Kogi State government should continue.
At a Congress today on the university campus, the lecturers said they would not return to work unless the state paid the outstanding salaries of May and June. The decision was reached after receiving a message from the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello through the Secretary to Kogi State Government, Dr Folashade Arike.
In the message, the Governor said he was not going back on his earlier stand, adding that he would not pay more salary arrears for now. The Governor asked the lecturers to return to duty if they loved their job or he would be compelled to take a stand. He had earlier said he would invoke the no-work-no-pay principle, or declare the positions of the lecturers vacant after a while.
The academics, in a unanimous decision, vowed to remain at home till all outstanding salaries were cleared. They said no pay, no work.
It would be recalled that the KSU ASUU went on strike on 14 April, and have not resumed. The state government had paid 4 of the outstanding salaries for the lecturers leaving only one month, but the ASUU said they asked for full clearance and not part payment. The face-off between ASUU and Bello has now lingered beyond expectation so that the state is now expected to pay for two months since June has ended.
It is a battle between two giants. Who blinks first. Only time shall tell in this battle between the advocates of no work no pay and no pay no work.”
