We’ll Shutdown DELSU, Go On Indefinite Strike If Okowa Fails To Implement Minimum Wage In Our January Salary —JAC

By Daniel Dafe, Delta

Non-teaching staff unions in Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, have vowed to embark on an indefinite strike at the end of the month if the state government does not implement the minimum wage in their January salary and pay all accrued arrears owed them.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday after a congress of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of non-teaching staff unions (DELSU-JAC) made up of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSAANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NATT) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Chairman of SSANU, who also heads the JAC, Comrade Izu Monday, said that they are yet to benefit from the national minimum wage that was approved with effect from April 2019, adding that this took effect in Delta State November 2019 but wondered why DELSU workers are yet to be included in this arrangement.

He said: “Workers all over the state have been paid the minimum wage except staff of Delta State University, Abraka. All our bids, discussion and ultimatums to the government have fallen on deaf ears.

“We have shown understanding and given them all the assistance they need. We are surprised and now finally we have written again.”

According to him, if the minimum wage does not reflect in their January salary and that the members of staff of the university are not paid the accrued arrears, “the members of SSANU, NASU and NAAT will embark on an indefinite, comprehensive and industrial action without further notice.”

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“Without notice because we have already given them enough notice. We gave in October it didn’t work; did same in November it also did not yield any result. We have given another one now to the end of January. If this does not work, then we won’t have any other to give again.

“If by the end of January our minimum wage is not paid, the university is not expected to run. We will shutdown the place. We are not begging for it; it is our right. What sin have we committed? We have been discriminated against and we will not accept that again,” he said.