The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the three Trade Unions in the Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate has written a Save Our Soul letter to the Oyo State House of Assembly.
The purpose of the letter is to intimate the state’s legislature on the condition of infrastructures, as well as challenges facing the staff and students of the College.
According to the letter duly signed by the chairmen of COEASU, NASU and SSUCOEN, the College appreciated the 9th Oyo State House of Assembly for passing the bill for the change of the name of the College to “Oyo State College of Education”, Lanlate and the other areas of the College law, which has given the College autonomy.
The letter reads:
“Since its establishment the College has been battling with a series of problems and challenges which have necessitated this letter.
“The issues are itemised below:
(1). Non-Release of Take-off Grant:
The College was not given any take-off grant by the state government when it was pronounced autonomous, and it has not received any till now. This has led to the poor state of facilities at the College. Of all the state-owned tertiary institutions, it is only our College that has not been given any take-off grant and this has negatively impacted the growth and development of the College.
(2) Infrastructural Deficit:
The non-release of take-off grant to the College has compounded the infrastructural deficit in the College. . There are not enough offices for staff hence some of them sit under trees. There are virtually no toilet facilities as the few available are in a state of disrepair. Staff has to go to the bush to answer nature’s call.
(3)Damaged Bridge:
The bridge on the only road to the College was destroyed by flood about three years ago. The College Management and the staff unions have written letters to the State Government requesting for the bridge to be fixed but nothing has been done as we write this piece.
(4) Abandoned Project:
The state government awarded the contract for the construction of the School of Education Complex to a contractor some years back. The contractor abandoned the project and absconded. Recently, the state government was said to have mobilised the contractor again with about #20 million to complete the project. Unfortunately again, the contractor has refused to return to site. We are appealing to the state government to prevail on the said contractor to come and complete the work. If the project is completed, it will ease the problem of shortage of office accommodation. More importantly, the College is preparing for accreditation and the building is required for the accreditation of all its courses.
(5) Staff Welfare:
We commend the state Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde for his worker-friendly programs. However, our annual salary increments for 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021, which has October 1 as its effective date are yet to be effected. Apart from this, the staff of the College is also owed promotion arrears of 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 all of which have run into several months now. Even, the 2021 promotion exercise is still hanging in the air.
(6) Non-payment of Arrears of the consequential adjustment on minimum wage:
Recall that the state government under Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun graciously Makinde approved the consequential adjustment on the new minimum wage in January, 2020. It may interest the house to know that it is only our College that is yet to pay the arrears as agreed and signed by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the trade Unions of the six Oyo State owned Tertiary Institutions and the government representatives. For your information, the staff is owed 9months of the arrears up to date. Because of this, we have commenced an indefinite strike since January 24, 2022. We are also owed arrears of Hazard and Medical allowances of 16months between 2014 and 2015. All efforts to get the College management to pay has proved abortive as they always complain of non-availability of funds
(7) Issue of accreditation:
The issue of accreditation is another area of concern. Be informed that since the College became autonomous in 2016, no accreditation of courses has been done. This is very dangerous for the College and her students.
As we round off this letter, we want to passionately appeal to Governor Seyi Makinde to come to our rescue. His midas touch is being felt everywhere across the state. Ours should not be an exception. These problems are too much for the College to bear. Needless to say Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate is at a precipice , and may collapse completely if urgent steps are not taken.
Responding to the appeal, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin noted that his recent evaluative visit to Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate showed him clearly the unimpressive state of infrastructure and the general condition of the College.
“I toured round the facilities, listened to the staff, students and other stakeholders on ground. We are calling for massive repair of infrastructures and approval of more funds for facilities and accreditation activities.
“We are calling on our Governor to kindly prioritize this college in all educational projects for this year. The students, staff and stakeholders trust us on this and there will definitely be a turn around,” the Speaker added.
