Few days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began an indefinite strike to press home their demand for better working condition, there are indication that higher education sector may soon witness more strike action as lecturers in Nigeria Polytechnics and Colleges of Education are bracing up for another round of industrial action.
Leaders of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union have threatened to embark on industrial action if the government continues to pay lip service to the welfare of their members and the working environment in their institutions.
While expressing solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in the struggle to restore sanity to Nigerian Universities and the education sector, General Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Comrade Anderson Ezeibe said the government must immediately commence the implementation of agreements entered into with the union to forestall an impending crisis in the polytechnic sub sector.
He it was unfortunate that it has become a norm for government to renege on agreements entered into with trade unions, particularly in the education sector leaving affected unions frustrated and with no choice than to down tools.
He said while ASUP is concern about the consequences of the strike on students, parents and society at large, the government should be held responsible for this avoidable industrial crisis.
He said ASUP is urging government to address the issue of shortfall in personnel releases in Federal Institutions since December 2015, non-payment of salaries in state Polytechnics, non-implementation of Needs Assessment report as well as non-payment of allowances.
“ASUP notes with nostalgia the renewal of hostilities in the country’s university campuses between ASUU and Government of Nigeria.
“While we are in unconditional solidarity with ASUU in this struggle to restore sanity to Nigerian universities, we are calling on the Government to commence without further delay the implementation of agreements entered into with ASUP to forestall an inpending crisis in the polytechnic sub-sector as the issues in contention which include shortfall in personel releases in Federal Instiuions since December 2015, non-payment of salaries in state Polytechnics, non-implementation of Needs Assessment report as well as non-payment of allowances”.
On their part, National President of the College of Education Academic Staff Union, OGIRIMA Nuhu gave the federal government a 48 hours ultimatum to reconstitute the governing council of the Federal College of Education, Okene and stop the proposed interview for a substantive Provost for the institution.
The union accused the governing council of being compromised by politicians and trying to impose a Provost on the institution, pointing out that failure to do that will compel the union to embark on an industrial action to press home other demands of the union.
Nuhu said apart from halting the proposed interview slated for Monday, 21 August, 2017 and the reconstitute the Governing Council of FCE Okene which has been compromised, the government should conduct fresh interview for the position of provost and college librarian to allow for the participation of all that may be qualified, including those illegally disqualified.
They also want the government to ensure a transparent and level playing for all applicants for same position in such colleges as FCE (T), Umunze, FCE (T), Gombe among others, adding that “should the Minister not see the need to address these concerns within the next 48hrs, from today, Wednesday, 16 August, 2017, the Federal Government should brace up for a serious industrial dispute on not only the FCE, Okene, matter but also all other outstanding issues to which FG paid only lip service.”
