An industrial crisis is brewing in the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) as the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) kicked over the plan of the institution to spend N65m on anniversary of the institution despite owing workers for several months.

The members of SSANU who described the development as insensitive and ill- timed, called on the university management not to embark on spending money on frivolities and be more focused on more pressing issues.

The Union frowned over the decisions of the school management, led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, to throw the demands of SSANU to thrash bin and refused to attend to payment of 12 months arrears remittance to members of PFAs, non- implementation of Employee Compensation Act, 2010, nonpayment of 18 months? arrears of January 2023 wage award and nonpayment of 105 months? arrears of Responsibility Allowance, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the Union, Comrade Oluwaseyi Abayomi, urged the university to address these critical staff welfare issues rather than allocate a significant sum to anniversary celebrations.

The union also emphasized its readiness to explore legal options if the management failed to attend to their demands.

?After exhaustive deliberation and consideration of the matter, congress expresses disappointment at the high level of insensitivity of the Management and thereby made following resolutions:

?That the University Management led by Professor Adesegun Fatusi reverses the highly insensitive and wasteful anniversary spending, as the congress considers it as high level of financial recklessness; especially at this point of general financial and economic challenge.

?That the management should commit itself to offsetting pending staff welfare matters that are already before the management; the pressing staff welfare matters which the congress expected that they are on priority list rather than a mere 10th anniversary include but not limited to the following:

?Arrears of over 12 months? remittance to members PFAS; immediate Implementation of Orange Health Insurance Policy to cater for health needs of our dear members.

?The congress also wishes to advice the Professor Adesegun Fatusi led-Management to be strategic at this point in time and adopt measures to avert wastefulness and focus on the development of the University while meeting pending welfare matters of staff who have sacrificed immensely over the years to ensure sustainability of the University over the period.

?The congress gave a directive that all SSANU members should not partake nor be a party to the highly insensitive white elephant anniversary that would possibly hamper on the financial sustainability of the University unless directed otherwise.

?Congress wishes to state categorically that it would resist the wasteful spending if the management fails to rescind on the huge planned expenditure on a mere anniversary that can be done modest, and yet excellently. Therefore, the Management is requested to notify the union on its position on this matter as soon as possible

?SSANU wishes to use this opportunity to request that, the University Governing Council mist live by its obligation and expectation at all times by containing executive recklessness and high-handedness when they are brought to it,? he demanded.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of UNIMED, Isaac Oluyi, described the allegations as not only false but baseless and unfounded, saying the allegations was target to smear the image of the vice chancellor of the school, Prof. Fatusi.

Oluyi said ?While it is false that the University is spending N65 million on its 10th Anniversary, the public needs to know that the anniversary is to showcase the remarkable achievements of the institution and to galvanise further support for its development.

?In fact, the University is exploring fundraising approach to finance the activities lined up for the celebration. Also, it needs to be noted that the high proportion of the fund is budgeted for the opening up of the new campus of the University where the convocation would be holding?

He said ?the Fatusi-led administration cleared the backlog in the last two months, under the leadership of Professor Adesegun Fatusi, staff of the University have received several arrears, particularly palliatives and 25% consequential adjustments.

?The University has also approved payment of Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) with effect from July 2024 to its medically qualified lecturers, a policy yet to be implemented by most universities including federal universities?

?The University is actually leaving no stone unturned to ensure that staff welfare is prioritised at all times.

?In fact, the administration also ensured that contrary to the situation it met on ground, salary is now being paid regularly on monthly basis, usually at about the 25th of the month.

?It is also pertinent to note that the Fatusi-led administration has been paying annual end-of-the-year bonus to all staff over the last two years ? a rare feat in public institutions, despite the fact that the administration has more than doubled the workforce over the last four years!

?It is therefore curious that SSANU is raising dusts at a time when the University has made their welfare a top priority and the only way to do that is to destabilise a system that is known for peace and uninterrupted academic calendar.

?Let it be known that the entire story is untrue and the public should discountenance it. The 10th Anniversary is not a jamboree; rather it an innovative method to further develop the University and it is being done with the full support of the Governing Council,? he added. (Nigerian Tribune)

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