Democratic Socialist Movement

For Struggle, Solidarity and Socialism in Nigeria

By - DSM

WE OPPOSE THE PROSCRIPTION OF STAFF UNIONS IN TAI SOLARIN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, OMU-IJEBU


WE OPPOSE THE PROSCRIPTION OF STAFF UNIONS IN TAI SOLARIN COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, OMU-IJEBU

Amosun regime must stop the attacks on workers’ rights

We of the Democratic Socialist Movement, Ogun State branch, condemn in strongest terms the suspension of the activities of the staff unions in Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu, Odogbolu Local Government Area, Ogun State. Ogun State through a letter signed by Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, the Secretary to the State Government, stated that the Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has approved the suspension of activities of staff unions in the institution.

We hold that the ban on the activities of the branches of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Non-Academic Staff Union and Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education (SSUCOEN) in the institution is a breach of the democratic rights of workers in the institution agitating for their legitimate and hard-earned salaries and allowances. We submit that the suspension of union activities in the institution is aimed at distracting attention from the demands of workers for the payment of their salaries due from January 2015 to the current month of July.

We also view the attack as a further blow on the living conditions of the workers. This is given the fact that diverse demands of workers ranging from payment of forty-eight(48) month salaries arrears, payment of unremitted nine(9) month cooperative deductions, payment of unremitted housing deductions and provision of office space accommodation has not been met by the government.

We view as completely heartless the position of government that it has “resolved the logjam” in the institution with the payment of the November and December, 2014 salaries with seven months still outstanding.

We join the staff unions to demand:

  • 1. Immediate reversal of the suspension of activities of staff unions by the Ogun State government.
  • 2. Immediate payment of the unpaid salaries of workers in the institution from January 2015 till date.
  • 3. Payment of unremitted 9(nine) months’ cooperative deductions.
  • 4. Payment of unremitted housing scheme deductions.
  • 5. Institution of functional, effective and democratically-run Governing Council with elected representatives of staff and students’ unions.
  • 6. Provision of office-space accommodation.
  • 7. Adequate funding of the institution and democratic control of the resources by elected representatives of staffs and students.
EKO JOHN NICHOLAS
Coordinator
AYO ADEMILUYI
Secretary