Administrative and other related activities were yesterday paralysed at all the six campuses of Osun State University (UNIOSUN) as the workers began indefinite strike over non-payment of their allowances and welfare packages, among other entitlements.
Under the aegis of the Joint Action Congress (JAC), the workers embarked on fasting and prayer to seek God's intervention in their plight.
The workers are members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria University (SSANU), Non- Academic Staff Union of Educational Institutions (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).
They prayed God to soften the heart of Governor Rauf Aregbesola so as to heed their demands.
The workers also staged a peaceful protest at the Osogbo main campus of the university.
Addressing the three unions at a congress held after the protest, NASU Chairman, Mr. Isaiah Fayemi, said: "UNIOSUN is the only institution in the South- West that is not enjoying the hazard allowance. Even LAUTECH that is co-owned by Osun and Oyo state governments is being faithful to this hazard allowance.
"To this end, the institution's council chairman has said that a committee should be set up, consisting of the Vice-Chancellor, the paramount ruler of Ile-Ife and some other principal officers of the institution in order to mediate with the governor."
Rising from the congress, the workers said the strike was embarked upon to report Aregbesola and the management to God through intensive prayer after a three-day fasting.
A communiqué signed by SSANU Chairman, Mr. Kadiri Adiat; NASU Chairman, Mr. Isaiah Fayemi and that of NAAT, Mr. Adeleke Ismaheel, stated that the implementation of hazard allowance, arrears, overtime allowance and stoppage of special allowances for some selected staff would be implemented to the letter before the workers would call off the strike.
The communiqué read: "The university should henceforth stop the implementation of the new killing tax regime and reverse to the old tax as obtained in other universities.
"The management should review the anomalies in the recent vacancies advertisement published in the Punch Newspaper of Thursday, 27th June, 2013.
"The advertisement should be reversed to accommodate members of staff with higher qualifications, temporary and GAP (Graduate Assistant Programme) that have been serving the system for sometimes now."
National Mirror