In
what could be described as a pathetic and pitiful situation, the staff of the
paramilitary establishment have come out to decry the unjust and inhumane
treatments they have been subjected to by the management of the African Maritime
Academy (aka Navy School), Oyo.
The
private establishment which comprises of a Monotechnic and a secondary school;
Merchant Navy Comprehensive High School is located along Eleekara road, Oyo. A
sister school of the institution is May International School which according to
information was recently moved from Sabo, Oyo to the Eleekara location.
The
staff, while revealing to our correspondent, ascertained that the management of
the schools, being solely run by Fleet Commodore M.A Yusuf, the Director of
Studies and Planning and the C.E.O, has been owing them several months of
salaries and shown no readiness to pay them.
In our findings, it was discovered that the CEO pays staff only when
he feels its time. A typical instance is a case-study of a staff that left the
establishment recently after the management refused to pay over 7months of the
outstanding salaries.
Lately,
our sources confirmed that while several appeals have been made for their
salaries to be paid, each moves have always been rebuffed and frustrated by the
boss as he was always giving them excuses or telling them he wasn’t available
to discuss their welfare situation.
A
source informed us that some of them have not been paid this year while some
have only been paid once. At a time when the workers became desperate and more
demanding, the CEO directed that all the staff should apply for a 5,000naira I.
O. U from the department. While quoting the source, he said, “How can
5,000naira fend for my family during this period. I take transport, I need to
feed them and I have other responsibilities.” The man stated amidst tears.
We
have also learnt that workers who have served in the establishment have had
similar experiences. When we contacted an ex-staff of the institution, he cried
out, “Why are people still serving in that establishment? Why will a man not
want to pay his workers who served him diligently?” He stated further that the
CEO’s attitude concerning welfare is lackadaisical and he has never been
bothered about those who worked under him.
In
some other revelations, we heard that lately, the lecturers of the Monotechnic were
shown the way out as the institution. It was gathered that for well over a year
now, the management had ceased paying the lecturers’ salaries and placed them
on what they called ‘commission’ of 10,000naira monthly which was not even
coming in regularly.
A
worker said, “Since I came in here, I have been very diligent and never found
wanting in the discharge of my duties. Unfortunately, the management does not
care about that. They don’t care if we die of hunger. And you still expect me
to keep working here? I am tired o. Let them just pay me and I am ready to
resign”.
As
a result of the poor welfare conditions of the staff, the students of the institutions
have not been faring well in their academics either. When we contacted a parent
who just withdrew her child from the school, she also corroborated the workers’
stories. In her words, she said “Each time I get to that school, I always pity
those staff. Poorly dressed and at times, looking tired and malnourished. I
always feel bad. The teachers don’t stay long at all. When they come in to see
the situation, they always leave immediately. As a result of the
inconsistencies, the students are at the receiving end. I can’t continue to
keep my child here’.
The
staff, while appealing to Fleet Commodore M.A Yusuf (Director of Studies/Planning
and the C.E.O of African Maritime Academy) to kindly listen to their cries of
hunger and pay up their outstanding salaries, also sent out a message to all
well-meaning individuals, civil societies and labour unions to come to their
aids and intervene in the matter.
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