The Ondo State Government has cleared the outstanding August arrears owed to the four state-owned tertiary institutions following the workers’ strike.
The payment was made as part of the government’s implementation of a 60 per cent increase in the institutions’ subventions, aimed at helping them meet their salary obligations and address workers’ welfare concerns.
The development comes amid disruptions to academic and administrative activities in the institutions following the industrial action by workers.
In a statement on Thursday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said the increased funding was designed to enable the institutions meet their salary commitments and address workers’ welfare concerns.
The statement said the government was hopeful that the payment would create room for dialogue and facilitate a resolution of the issues responsible for the strike.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa appealed to the unions to reciprocate the government’s action by suspending the strike and returning to work.
He urged the unions to act in good faith and consider the interests of students whose academic activities have been affected by the prolonged dispute.
The governor also stressed the importance of restoring normalcy in the institutions to prevent further disruption to the academic calendar.