Just In: Why EBSU Embarks On Indefinite Strike

By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

Ebonyi State University, EBSU has shutdown its activities indefinitely following the denial of 2-months workers salary and other beneficial welfare packages. The state owned University's staff barricades the school gate with tag inscription " EBSU On Strike" on Thursday, 11th May, 2023.

According to the Joint Action Committees of Trade Union, JACTU, the decision was taken to press home the demand for improvement of workers welfare. Speaking with the Ebonyi State chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University, SSANU, Comrade Elias Odigbo, called on the state government to implement their promotion exercise with financial effect, hence, pay them their salaries.

"We are gathered here to express our grievances that the university is not fair to us. The people that were promoted was given only but a paper; no financial effect and they refers those promoted to the Council and since 2017 that they were inaugurated had never presented even a promotion matter to the Council for deliberation. " Our salary is not coming as at when due. This is May and the last salary we received was paid on February 2023 and our pension contribution when it's deducted suppose to be remitted to our pension manager, but it is not been remitted. The last it was remitted was in February, 2022 even when it's deducted till date. "Also, conversion was conducted and interview successful and it was published, but unfortunately before we know it, we heard that everything has been cancelled while they are employing people to fill in the gap from outside even when we have qualify personnel to fill in the gap.

" And the university is complaining that they have short of fund even when they are employing people from outside the school. "Another issue that force us to go on this strike is the ten months arrears; our salary was deducted 20% and the management said that they're going to refund us but until date, they only refund us five months remaining 10-months.

"Yes, we are not fighting government nor the management, but our prayers is that, let our salary be paid up until date, our arrears be paid, let our promotion be released with finance effect and the conversion that was conducted be release.

Lending his voice, the state chairman, Non Academic Staff Union of Education and Association Institution, Ebonyi state University, Comrade Nwovu Michael Origbo described the strike as indefinite and appealed to Ebonyi state government to address the demands for the interest of the workers. On his part, Comrade Okoro Basil, Ebonyi state chairman National Association of Academic Technology, NAAT, lamented that workers subscribed for National Housing Fund but regrettably, the money was deducted from their salary but was not remitted until the portal was shutdown leaving EBSU as the only institution that did not register for the Scheme. He further noted that the strike would last until When their plights is permanently addressed. Meanwhile,our Correspondent observed that people are not allowed to access the school gate including those who are coming out of the school that had explained to had gone to make withdrawal are warned not to come to the place the next day as security would not allow them in.