BY LEKE ADEGBITE
Members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) in Ondo state from basic and secondary schools have staged a peaceful protest to seek their inclusion in the extension of the retirement age for teachers from 60 to 65 years and the years of service from the current 35 to 40 years.
The NASU members who were armed with placards bearing different inscriptions defied the early morning rain and converged on the headquarters of Ondo state Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), the Governor’s office and the State Assembly complex at Alagbaka Akure to seek the state government’s support for their agitation.
Addressing the protesting Non-Academic Staff in Akure, Ondo state Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Sunday Adeleye-Oluwole represented by his Secretary, Comrade Omokehinde Shado, described as unjust the exclusion of Non-Teaching staff in the federal government’s incentive.
Adeleye-Oluwole noted that extending retirement age of Non-Teaching staff like teachers would bring high productivity and efficiency into the secondary school education, urging President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to grant the NASU demands for its members.
Also speaking, the Ondo state Chairman of NASU, Comrade Adebayo Obayoriade and the State Secretary of the Union, Alhaji Adewale Sanusi, said their members were well qualified to be included in the extension of Retirement age and also benefit from a Special Salary Scale as well as the enhanced allowances.
Speaking on behalf of Government, the Head of Service, Pastor Adeniran Adeyemo said the NASU demands would be submitted to the appropriate quarters for necessary actions at the federal and state levels.