The coalition of unions in the College of Education, Ekiadolor on Monday protested the non-payment of salaries which they said is over eleven months.
In a statement signed by the chairmen of Colleges of Education Academic Staff, (COEASU), and others said, to date, the State government is owning staff of the tertiary institution eleven months salaries including pension and gratuities.
According to him, the development negates the copious provisions of all known international and municipal labour laws.
‘You would recall that sometime in 2014, Edo state government came up with the now failed policy and promise of upgrading the forty years old college of education, Ekiadolor to a University.
This failed policy was even now given vent by the Edo State governor in his recent visit to the institution on Saturday 9th May 2020, when he said the university has never existed.
‘This recent revelation by Mr governor as to the status of the college is a confirmation of the staff’s belief all along that the upgrade of the institution was a beer parlour pronouncement, and a political gimmick aimed at satisfying the driver of both the immediate past and the present administration in Edo State’
‘Gentlemen of the press, we are Edo State workers. We and our families deserve to live, no payment of salaries is certainly not a new way of doing things.
Whereas the state government has received monies through the Paris club refund, bail-out funds from the federal government and different organizations as COVID-19 palliative, she has continually refused to pay us our salaries, pension and gratuities.
They noted that they will have no option than to block the road and gate to the government house should the governor refuse to hear and answer their prayers within the next seven days he added.
Addressing the protesting union the Head of Service, Edo State, Anthony Osa’s Okungbowa said plans are in top gear to respond to COLBEN staff with immediate effect.
‘My dear comrades, I’m here to convey to you people the message of his Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki, he has directed the accountant general of the state to pay one month subvention to you people by the end of today, in the coming weeks, Mr. Governor will work out other outstandings’
‘Governor Obaseki has set up a commission of inquiring in a bid to clear the mess on the ground like he promised some time ago he added.
