The management of Ebonyi State University (EBSU) has appealed to the three striking unions in the school to reconsider their action and embrace dialogue to drive home their demands.

The management made the appeal in a statement on Thursday.

Three unions, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Other Associated Institutions, and the National Association of Academic Technologists, are at loggerheads with the management.

The unions had on Thursday embarked on an indefinite strike over alleged nonpayment of their three months outstanding salaries and some deduction in salary during COVID-19 in 2020, amongst others.

“The management is surprised that the unions decided to embark on strike at this time in spite of the deep and far-reaching consultations it had with them. During the consultations, management has always laid bare the financial status of the university,” the statement said. “By the grace of God, management has been able to pay salaries up to March 2023.”

The university added, “Governor David Umahi has promised to give EBSU a grant to pay the remaining April 2023 salary. The governing council in its emergency meeting with the unions on May 9, assured the unions of the unequivocal commitment of the management to settle the April and May 2023 salaries before the exit of this administration.”

It further noted that the institution’s management “is committed to settling the outstanding 20 per cent arrears of salaries cut from COVID-19 era” and stressed that “to ignore the appeals of EBSU Governing Council does not speak well.”

The university urged the unions to reconsider their actions and return to work and called on students to return to the university to continue to attend lectures without fear of harassment or molestation in any way.

(NAN)