The JAC of non- Teaching Staff of Imo state University, Owerri, (IMSU) has decried the selective method of payment of salary by the Imo state government led by Senator Hope Uzodimma.
They made their intentions known in a communiqué signed by Comrade John-Anoruo Eugenia C, JAC chairman/Chairman NASU of IMSU, Comrade Stan Iromaka Chairman NAAT IMSU, Comrade Hanson Agunamba, Vice Chairman SSANU/PRO JAC and Comrade Ambrose Okereafor JAC/Secretary after its regular meeting held at the Faculty of Humanities Theatre Hall, Imo State University Owerri, (IMSU) respectively.
They demanded to know why over 150 members of IMSU staff are yet to be paid their salaries since March 2020 till date, contrary to claims and counter claims that they have been paid.
They however kicked against the removal of JAC chairman’s name from the salary schedule in July to September 2020, saying the action of the government towards it’s members calls for questioning.
According to them, “The action of the Imo government is a ploy to destabilize the genuine struggle of non- teaching staff of the Imo State University Owerri, (IMSU).”
The non- teaching staff of Imo state University Owerri, (IMSU) therefore called for the restoration of peculiar allowances and full payment of salaries for it’s members.
They noted with great dismay that since the present government took over the payment of salaries, it has unilaterally removed the peculiar allowances due to some staff such as occupational hazard allowance, shift-duty allowance, health allowance to mention but a few as contained in the FGN/Unions agreement since 2009.
This is arbitrary and negates the efficacy of the agreement and JAC therefore, used this very medium to plead with the state government for the restoration of the allowances as well as payment of arrears that had accrued as appropriate”.
JAC also complained about the non- payment of February 2020 salaries to the Imo state university Owerri, (IMSU), staff saying the government’s reasons are inexplicable and therefore wants the state government to resolve the salary issue in order to have a continuous industrial harmony on campus.
They further queried the non remittance of outstanding staff pension deduction since May 2016, saying that the Monthly pension deduction of it’s members are yet to be remitted to the staff retirement savings account (RSAs) since May 2016 till date.
The non teaching staff union wants the state government to remit the monthly pension deduction of staff alongside their salaries every month, as practiced before the Okorocha administration destabilized the system.
Others are non remittance of check off to it’s members, JAC said they are not impressed that since January 2020 till date, pointing out that the under listed check off dues were not remitted by both the management and government to the appropriate bodies, Loss of University autonomy as a result of joining Treasure Single Account (TSA), JAC, lamented the current resolve by the present government to include Imo State University Owerri in the TSA and maintained it’s stand that it is not a healthy development.
Lastly, JAC faults the non payment of earned allowances by the present government, saying that the inability of the Imo state government to keep faith with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered into with staff of the institution on the liquidation of arrears of earned allowances of various Unions on campus, is worrisome.
They immediately called on the Imo state government to pay the affected staff their salaries without further delay.
