UNILAG VC promises intervention as health workers protest arrears

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola

Health workers at the University of Lagos Medical Centre on Wednesday staged a protest over their exclusion from the recent payment of eight months’ arrears of the Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance.

The workers, under the aegis of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union, staged the protest from the medical centre to the Senate building, where the UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, addressed them.

The protest was led by the Chairman of the SSANU UNILAG chapter, Dr Ademola Yusuf, and SSANU ex-officio, Yinusa Abiodun.

Speaking, Yinusa described as deeply troubling the fact that UNILAG health workers, comprising doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, radiographers and public health personnel, were excluded from the payment of CONTTA arrears.

Addressing the workers at the Senate building, Ogunsola cautioned them against comparing payment regimes in universities, noting that their peculiarities differed.

She promised to present the workers’ case to the Federal Government, urging them to remain positive to get some level of response in terms of payment.

Ogunsola said, “Circumstances differ from one university to another. You cannot just touch monies not budgeted for so as not to run foul of the law.

“I will fight for you, but the final answer comes from the government. We have to get something that is sustainable, not something that will be paid and then we stop.

“We are working to discuss with the government to address the issue. We also understand that their number has dropped from over 100 to about 60 workers.

“On CONTTA, our bursar will be going to Abuja, and we expect feedback on that. Give me some time; I will do my very best. It may not be the exact thing you want, but you’ll get something.”

Speaking, Yinusa said the protest was a response to “an injustice that has persisted despite efforts at dialogue and negotiation.”

He said, “It is deeply troubling that health workers comprising doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, radiographers and public health personnel have been excluded from the payment of CONTTA arrears, despite the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, clarifying that the funds released were tied to the number of staff on the payroll.

“This exclusion is particularly difficult to justify when health workers in other federal universities were reportedly captured in the payment.

“The question is simple: What makes the health workers of the University of Lagos less deserving of an entitlement extended to their counterparts elsewhere?”

Yinusa said the protest was a demand for fairness and equity for professionals who responded to emergencies and met the health needs of the university community day in, day out.

He said, “We cannot be indispensable when their services are required and invisible when entitlements are being distributed.

“In an economy where inflation has relentlessly eroded purchasing power, and the cost of food, transportation, housing and necessities has become unbearable, this payment was expected to provide some much-needed relief to struggling workers and their families.

“To exclude them is not merely an administrative oversight; it is to deepen their economic hardship, undermine their morale and diminish the value of their sacrifices.”

He called on the university management to urgently correct what he described as an injustice, account for the exclusion and ensure that all eligible health workers were captured for payment.

He equally urged the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, to intervene and ensure that the purpose of the fund release was not defeated.

He added, “No worker should have to protest to be counted. No institution should celebrate excellence while neglecting the welfare of those who sustain it.

“The demand is neither special treatment nor privilege. It is simple justice. Count the health workers. Pay their entitlements. Let fairness prevail.”