“For
instance, a senior lecturer in OOU pays more tax than a professor at the
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB).”
Lecturers at the Olabisi Onabanjo University,
OOU, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, on Monday staged a peaceful protest alleging
arbitrary tax policy and irregular
payment of salaries since 2011.
The lecturers were seen carrying placards with
various inscriptions chanting solidarity songs.
Addressing journalists after the demonstration,
Deji Agboola, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU,
OOU branch, decried what he described as haphazard payment of the salaries of
his members in the past three years.
He said that the irregular payment had made it
difficult for the lecturers to plan and meet some financial obligations
such as payment of rents and their children’s school fees.
“The astronomic and arbitrary tax policy to
which our members are subjected has further pauperised them.
“For instance, a senior lecturer in OOU pays
more tax than a professor at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
(FUNNAB).
“The deductions have failed to take cognisance
of the Consolidated Peculiar University Academic Allowance (CONPUA),’’ he said.
Mr. Agboola alleged that the situation had
persisted since 2011 in spite of several letters of appeal to State Internal
Revenue Service and the, OOU management.
The Chairman noted that such situation was
capable of exposing his members to the temptation of unethical practises.
He therefore appealed to Governor Ibikunle
Amosun, to intervene in the matter urgently to save his members from their
plight.
Mr. Agboola, however, directed his members to
boycott classes as from March 18 until their requests were addressed.
The union also used the occasion to sensitise
the students on their action and presented a letter of grievances to the Vice
Chancellor, Saburi Adesanya, for onward transmission to the governor.
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