Lecturers of Osun State own tertiary institution have rejected Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s directive asking them to return to classes on Monday.

The lecturers, under the umbrella of the Council of Academic Staff Unions of Osun State-Owned Tertiary Institutions, (CASUOSTI) said in a statement in Osogbo on Friday that they would not yield to the state government directive to resume without addressing the issues which led to their indefinite strike action.

The statement was jointly issued by the CASUOSTI Chairman, Lasisi Jimoh; secretary, Olusegun Lana; Chairman Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, Iree, Dotun Omisore; ASUP chairman, Esa Oke, Adesola Akande; COEASU Ila-Orangun Chairman, Segun Onifade and COEASU Ilesa Chairman, Oladele Ojo.

The secretary of the CASUOSTO said Aregbesola had only paid the lecturers one month out of the nine months’ salaries owed them despite the release of N34.988bn bailout fund to the state for that purpose. They said the government had paid three months’ salaries to other categories of workers but left them out.

In their statement, the lecturers described the directive as violent, ridiculous, malicious, lawless and ill-advised. According to them, it is the most unexpected response to the peaceful and lawful demand for their legitimate rights from a democratic government.