ASUU laments the exit of 50 lecturers from Kogi varsity

THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Kogi State University, Anyigba, KSU, has lamented that no fewer than 50 lecturers have left the institution to the prolonged delay in salaries payment and other problems affecting the staffers of the institution.

Yahaya Bello

At a briefing in Lokoja, yesterday, Chairman of ASUU, KSU branch, Dr. Daniel Aina, warned that if nothing was done urgently, more qualified staff would join the exodus. Aina said the sad situation prompted the union’s industrial action in May, stressing that the strike would continue until all their demands were met. 

According to him, “The resolution of congress is that the action will be sustained till the last kobo owed is paid and that the action will be invoked anytime delay in salary payment goes beyond the 7th day of the succeeding month.” He however denounced insinuation from government quarters that the union requested for tax exemption, said what ASUU requested for was tax rebate due to heavy and multiple taxation, “We are responsible citizens. 

Sometime ago, we were over taxed. Through series of protracted dialogues, consultations and negotiations, the government conceded to the exemption and granted the affected staff, a seven month tax holiday with effect from October 2015 to April 2016 via S/KGS/ADM/307/IV/876. “Till date, this exemption has not been consummated. The other issue is the rebate which we are asking for. In our negotiation with government, we pointed out that KSU staff pay as high as 400% of what their counterparts pay within the state as well as neighbouring state universities.”

Source: Vanguard