TASCE Unions Paralyses Activities, Embarks on Indefinite Strike

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

Academic and commercial activities were on Tuesday paralysed at the Tai Solarin College of Education, TASCE, Omu Ijebu in Odogbolu local government area of the State.

The three unions in the school are College of Education Staff Union, COESU; Non Academic Staff Union, NASU and Senior Staff Association of Tai Solarin College of Education, SSUCOEN.

The staff of the school numbering over 150 this morning barricaded the expressway blocking the new bridge along the expressway, causing gridlock to users plying Ijebu Ode-Itoikin-Ikorodu road.

The protest was led by the leaders of the three Unions who vowed not to resume until the payment of their 48-month old arrears

Some inscription on their placards read: “SIA pay TASCE staff their 48-month salary arrears”; “No going back, we need our salary”; “Amosun, come to our aid”; “No to irregular payment of salaries, it must stop”; “Amosun motivate TASCE workers for better performance”; “TASCE staff are part of Ogun State workforce, pay our salary as at and when due” among others.

The protesting workers revealed that the state government has reneged on their promises and that the only option left to them was to embark on an indefinite strike action.

They revealed that the present administration signed the new salary structure in July 2013 and has since then failed to pay them.

They stated that the past administration under Otunba Gbenga Daniel owed them 24 months arrears while the present government also owed 24 months.

Speaking with our correspondent at the end of the new express way bridge, Mobalufon where they gathered before moving towards the Lagos garage in Ijebu Ode, one of the three leaders, Comrade Olatunji Osoba of NASU maintained that they have been patient enough with the government, noting that, the government is unconcerned about their plight.

“We are expecting nothing than the payment of our arrears. The government should come out to tell us the modalities of the payment and we will not take anything less than three-month payment.

“Yesterday, we were on our way to Abeokuta when they sent us a text that the Commissioner for Finance was not around. We were informed earlier that all the modalities for the payment are with the Finance Commissioner but now that they are not ready to attend to us, we have resolved to down our tool and embark on peaceful protest to press home our demands,” NASU Chairman stated.

The other union leaders corroborated the stand of Osoba, stating that despite the non-payment of their staff, the government has on a daily basis employed more staff.

They disclosed that over 14 of their members have so far died while about eight are in critical condition, describing most of their workers as a walking corpse due to inability to live well.

The union leaders have vowed not to stop the protest until the government yield to their plight.

A source from the state Ministry of Education, Science and Technology disclosed to our correspondent that their salary has been paid and asserted that they will get the alert later today.