• Aiyedatiwa’s aide blames delay on commissioner’s absence, says arrears’ll be paid
Students in Ondo State have expressed outrage after the state government paid the old subvention rate to tertiary institutions despite Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s announcement of a 60 per cent increase in monthly subventions and the immediate implementation of the agreement between the Federal Government and university unions.
The Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Committee, Ondo State Axis, Mayomi Adekanye, raised the alarm after the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, confirmed during a programme on Adaba FM that the old subvention rate was paid to the institutions.
The development has generated concerns over the government’s August 17 announcement, in which the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, said the 60 per cent increase in monthly subventions and the implementation of the Federal Government and unions’ agreement would “take immediate effect from this month.”
Adekanye, in an appeal to the governor, said the confirmation by ASUU that the old subvention rate was still paid meant that the government’s promise was yet to be fulfilled despite the widespread publicity that accompanied the announcement.
“We acknowledge your promise to end the ongoing strike and your announcement of a 60 per cent increase in the university subvention. However, ASUU confirmed on Adaba FM this morning that the old subvention rate was still paid yesterday.
“Despite our diplomatic demands, the promise remains unfulfilled. Yet, all news outlets and bloggers published it, praising you, Mr Governor, over the increment,” he said.
The student leader lamented the hardship the continued industrial action had imposed on students and their families, saying accommodation rents and other financial obligations did not stop because academic activities had been suspended.
“My Governor, our house rents continue to waste. Landlords will never be considerate because there’s strike. Graduating students are losing opportunities daily because of the ongoing strike.
“We know you are trying, my Governor. But what joy is there for parents, or for you as the father of all Ondo State residents, if your children, the students, are still at home?” he asked.
Adekanye, therefore, appealed to the governor to urgently intervene and bring the strike to an end.
“My esteemed Governor, we are pleading with you. Please intervene and do something urgent to end this strike,” he added.
Responding to the concerns, Adeniyan explained that the non-reflection of the new subvention rate in the August payment was due to ongoing work by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to determine the appropriate adjustment.
He said the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, who heads the team working out the adjustment, was out of the state on an official assignment for two weeks when the approval was granted.
According to him, the adjustment was still being worked out when the August subvention was released, hence the payment of the old rate.
“At the time the approval was given, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, who heads the team to work out the adjustment, was out of the state on an official assignment for two weeks.
“This meant that at the time the August subvention was released, the new adjustment was still being worked out by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
“Once this is completed, the August arrears of the difference will be paid to the institutions,” he said.
The government’s explanation, however, has further drawn attention to the wording of its earlier statement, which described the 60 per cent increment as an immediate increase and expressly stated that both the subvention increase and the implementation of the agreement with the university unions would take effect from August.
In the August 17 statement, the government said the increased subventions were intended to strengthen the capacity of the institutions to meet their obligations, ensure prompt payment of salaries and improve the overall learning environment for students and staff.
Governor Aiyedatiwa had also urged the management of the affected institutions to ensure judicious use of the increased subvention and prioritise staff welfare and academic excellence, while calling on the unions to reciprocate the government’s goodwill by maintaining industrial harmony.
But with the old subvention rate reportedly paid for August and the adjustment still being worked out, students are now pressing the government to urgently conclude the process, pay the outstanding difference and take concrete steps towards ending the industrial action that has kept them out of their classrooms.
