The Non-Academic staff Union of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education (EACOED, Oyo) has joined other workers’ unions of The Polytechnic Ibadan to reject a memorandum of understanding on new national minimum wage, which was signed between Oyo State Government and the Joint Action Committee of Oyo State tertiary institutions.
NASU EACOED, in a press statement signed by its chairman – Mr. Adeshina Adetunji Micheal, said that the move is totally against the principle of collective bargaining, unconstitutional and aberration.
According to the union, the registered trade unions are constitutionally recognized to negotiate on behalf of workers. “It is worrisome to note that Oyo State Government through the Commissioner for Education choose to negotiate and continuing negotiation with illegal association when registered Unions opted out of the exercise”.
The full statement reads:
NON-ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF EDUCATIONAL AND ASSOCIATED INSTITUTIONS (NASU) EMMANUEL ALAYANDE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, OYO (EACOED) REJECT OYO STATE GOVERNMENT M.O.U ON NEW MINIMUM WAGE FOR OYO STATE TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS.
The NASU EACOED branch wish to state that, the newly signed MOU between the Oyo State Government and JAC on 13th January, 2021 is totally against the principle of collective bargaining, unconstitutional and aberration. Under the law, the body that is recognized to negotiate on behalf of workers is the registered trade unions. It is worrisome to note that Oyo State Government through the Commissioner for Education choose to negotiate and continuing negotiation with illegal Association when registered Unions opted out of the exercise.
The agreement made with JAC is fraudulent, null and void, this union had withdrawn officially from the negotiation through a letter addressed to the Commissioner for Education on 16th December, 2020 when the union loss confidence in the leadership of JAC Joint Action Committee.
NASU of all the six (6) owned tertiary Institution in Oyo State also served the Honourable Commissioner for Education a memo on 31st December, 2020 to show its disagreement on the negotiation.
Despite that, the Honourable Commissioner for Education go ahead with the unconstitutional act.
The Purported MOU is not binding on us as we are not party to it,while we advise the Oyo state government ably led by Engr’ Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde not to allow any member of his cabinet to mislead or misinform the government about the constitutional process of trade unionism .
Adeshina Adetunji Micheal
NASU CHAIRMAN
EACOED
