BEING VOICELESS IN THE FACE OF INJUSTICE - BABAFEMI SAMUEL

All glory and honor to Almighty God for his grace over the entire workforce of Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu, Ogun state. It has been sheer mercy and favor of our creator that we have survived excruciating months of unpaid salaries which by 31st May, 2016 will clock 12months. Even as I write this piece, it is uncertain, if our days of wailing are over or if the ogun state government under the leadership of Senator Ibikunle Amosun (FCA) is willing going to extend our ordeals of unpaid salaries/subvention beyond May 2016.

The present state of mind of any TASCE staff is frustration, anger and dejection. To work for 30days and not get paid is not a new phenomenon in Nigeria rather it seems to be the order of the day but to dedicate your precious time and efforts into a job for months running into a year, not knowing when your personal emoluments will be paid is enough to drive any individual into depression, mental retardation or possible suicide. With economic hardship biting harder in the country, TASCE staff omu-ijebu have consistently continue to languish in abject poverty and penury yet those at the helms of affair are excited that we are keeping mute and quiet. At home front, our men have become errand boys, women become slaves, and worst case scenario is that on a daily basis, every member of staff is gradually becoming a walking corpse. Every time it is aired on the mass media that “OGUN STATE GOVERNMENT IS NOT OWING ANY CIVIL SERVANT” we are being tormented with harsh words from our once benevolent landlords and creditors to pay our rents and other forms of debts. A staff once related to me how his wards refused to go to school for fear of being bullied with the poem “DADDY, MUMMY COME AND PAY OUR SCHOOL FEES”. Staff whose vehicles are still in good conditions if any, use it for transport plying different routes within Ijebu-Ode and environs. Except any TASCE staff is feigning a fake lifestyle, this is the lot of so many of us. We have become laughing stocks because of our inability to meet all our financial obligations yet the government of the day has refused to blink an eye.

At present less than 400 staff of the 1st State-owned tertiary institution established under section 3 of the LAW No.6 of 1980 entitled Tai Solarin College of Education Law, 1980 is being owed (April-June 2015) salaries, (September-December 2015) salaries and as at the time of writing this article, January 2016 salaries till date. The three major unions in the college have been proscribed by the ogun state government. The national bodies of COEASU, SSUCEON and NASU have never for once risen up to fight this grave injustice. TASCE saga is an eye-opener, that most of these national bodies are toothless bull dogs only interested in union dues. We are alone in our world being forced to take overdose of misery and neglects. Our cross we must bear alone. We know how it feels to be voiceless in the face of injustice. Every day of our lives we are weathering a storm that only God knows when it will be over. It is a feeling of constant humiliation for staff of an institution expected to train teachers of tomorrow.

A word of advice to sycophants spreading baseless rumors about the rejection of 2 months subvention being released to TASCE Omu-Ijebu, stop adding salt to our injury. Ogun state government operates a cashless policy where all salaries are wired to bank accounts of all Ogun state parastatals from the accountant general office, TASCE Omu-Ijebu inclusive. If truly 2months subvention was released to us, we won’t have rejected our hard earned sweat. My sincere appeal to ogun state governor, please pay us in TASCE our salaries just as the way our counterparts in the ministries and teaching service are paid. To whoever comes across this article; please help send SMS to these mobile lines (08033213993, 08068965500) of Governor Ibikunle Amosun (FCA) as published by Sahara reporters pleading with him to the needful.

To the families of over 20 staff of the college who are deceased now due to inability to manage one health issue or the other as a result of unpaid wages, God will be your strength and provider. Finally to the entire workforce, most importantly couples not excluding my humble self-working in Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu, Ogun state. Our present predicament is beyond human comprehension but not above God’s intervention. Keep doing everything within the ambit of the law to survive. Though weeping may tarry through the night, joy comest in the morning. Our continued steadfastness in faith believing in God will see us cross the red sea.

GOD BLESS OGUN STATE, GOD BLESS NIGERIA MY COUNTRY.

Babafemi Samuel
Ijebu-Ode.
princefm@live.com