Ogun College of Education lecturers cry out over 61 months unpaid salaries

The workers also threaten to sue for use of “Tai Solarin”

 

Officials of the Tai Solarin College of Education, TASCE, Omu-Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State,on Thursday said that the state government owed them 61 months salary arrears.

Addressing a press conference at the Iwe-Iroyin Press Centre, Abeokuta, the chairman of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union,  COEASU, Dan Oludipe, disclosed that the unpaid salary arrears was based on the new minimum wage.

“Presently, the government owes us salaries of July – December, 2013, February – September 2011.This is in addition to 48 months salary arrears of the new minimum wage, July 2009 – June 2013,” he explained.

The chairman accompanied by the secretary, Modupe Owolabi-Gabriel, lamented that to date the union had lost many members of staff – teaching and non-teaching – as a result of the sufferings caused by the non-payment of the wages.

Meanwhile, the use of the name of the late educationist, Tai Solarin, is now the cause of a rift between the college and its sister institution, Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED. A legal tussle could ensue as the authorities of the College of Education have threatened to drag TASUED to court in Ijebu-Ode.

“TASUED cannot continue to use the name Tai Solarin, since the TASUED’S foundation (TASCE) was removed in October 2008,” Mr. Oludipe said.

TASCE, a National Certificate of Education, NCE, awarding institution was founded in 1978. It started operations in Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode but was later moved to Omu, Ijebu-Ode in March 2005 on the orders of the immediate-past governor of the state, Gbenga Daniel.

Mr. Oludipe stated that all valuable asset, both fixed and unfixed, belonging to TASCE, were being usurped by TASUED, which is currently based in Ijagun. He said that some of the property included TASCE Staff Primary and Secondary Schools – both in Igbeba, TASCE bakery, TASCE water and TASCE petrol station.

“If we are not answered by them, we have to go to court. We have enough evidence to show that Tai Solarin College of Education owns Ijagun. The government came up with another thing and they called it re-establishment of TASCE without repealing the one that transformed it to University. We are ready to charge them to court. The government should remove the name and change it to University of Education and not TASUED,” Mr. Oludipe said.

He called on the institution’s alumni to join hands with the workers union to rescue TASCE from its present degenerating condition.

“In view of the psychological trauma suffered by the founding and long existing staff of TASCE, forcefully moved away from their bonafide campus, Ijagun to TASCE, Omu, it would be highly appreciated if the government can accede to our prayers. We are prepared to defend and possibly expatiate on all the aforementioned discuss at any suitable time,” Mr. Oludipe said.