Ondo govt pays subvention arrears, urges varsities to end strike
By Boye Oyeyemi
The Ondo State Government has paid the August arrears balance of the new subventions to the four state-owned tertiary institutions in the state, urging striking workers to return to work.
The payment, effected on Thursday, is part of the government’s implementation of a 60 per cent increase in the subventions allocated to the institutions.
The increase, according to the government, is aimed at helping the institutions meet their salary obligations and improve the welfare of workers.
The government said the latest payment marked the commencement of the implementation of the enhanced subvention approved for the institutions.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa appealed to the striking unions to reciprocate the government’s gesture by suspending the industrial action.
Aiyedatiwa urged the unions to “in good faith” call off the strike and resume work in the interest of students and the overall development of the state.
The governor’s appeal came amid the ongoing industrial action by workers in the state-owned tertiary institutions over issues relating to their welfare and unpaid obligations.
The government expressed hope that the payment would pave the way for an amicable resolution of the dispute and the resumption of academic activities in the affected institutions. However, as of press time, none of the institutions had issued an official statement.
