TENSION AS ONDO VARSITY, SSANU CLASH OVER ALLEGED FINANCIAL RECKLESSNESS
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Tension between the union and the administration has arisen as a result of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) accusing the management of financial irresponsibility at the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), which is controlled by Ondo State.
According to SSANU, the administration of the university neglected urgent staff welfare concerns in favor of spending more than ₦65 million on the celebrations of the university’s tenth anniversary. These consist of:
Twelve months’ worth of unpaid pension fund administrator (PFA) remittances
18 months’ worth of unpaid wages from January 2023
Arrears of Responsibility Allowance for 105 months
Non-payment of excess workload allowance, among others.
In a communiqué issued after a congress meeting, SSANU Chairman, Comrade Oluwaseyi Abayomi, described the expenditure as “insensitive” amidst economic challenges. He called on the university management, led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, to prioritize staff welfare over unnecessary spending.
“The congress condemns the plan to spend over ₦65 million on a mere 10th anniversary at a time of economic hardship,” Abayomi said. “Management must reverse this wasteful expenditure and focus on offsetting outstanding staff entitlements.”
The union enumerated several requests, such as paying the 57-month arrears of the 2019 minimum wage consequential adjustment, implementing the Orange Health Insurance Policy, bridging staff training and development gaps, and immediately remitting pension arrears.
Additionally, SSANU instructed its members to abstain from the anniversary celebrations until the administration resolved their complaints.
The Governing Council of the institution was also urged by the communiqué to maintain accountability, especially in the current vice-chancellor selection process.
Isaac Oluyi, the spokesperson for UNIMED, responded by calling SSANU’s claims unfounded and charging the union with evading internal dispute resolution procedures.
“It is unfortunate that a respected union would go public without seeking clarification,” Oluyi said. “The accusations are laughable, especially since the university was recently celebrated for its achievements by the Ondo State government.”
Oluyi clarified that the anniversary budget is far less than ₦65 million and is primarily for developmental projects, including the opening of a new campus where the convocation will take place.
“The anniversary is not a jamboree but a strategic event to showcase the university’s achievements and attract support for its development,” he added. “The Governing Council fully supports this initiative.”
The disagreement highlights growing tensions between the university’s staff and management over financial priorities. Both parties await further developments, with SSANU threatening legal action should their demands remain unmet.
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