19th March, 2014
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the Federal Government to end the strike embarked upon by polytechnic and colleges of education teachers educational.
The polytechnic teachers under their union, ASUP began their strike in October last year, while the teachers under COEASU started last December.
The strike is over the refusal of government to fully implement the 2009 agreement it signed with the unions.
The non-release of a White Paper on the Visitation Panel to Federal Polytechnics is also identified as one of the reasons for the strike.
Others are the non release of funds for the implementation of CONTISS 15 migration and its arrears, alleged discrimination against polytechnic graduates in public service and during job search, among others.
NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar in Abuja, said that the congress is concerned with the prolonged strike, which has led to the disruption of the academic calendar and threatened the education sector.
“It is time for the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) to go back to work. The congress is concerned with the prolonged strike; this has led to the disruption of the academic calendar and also threatening the health of education in the sub-sector.
“These negativity are seldom good for the quality of the nation’s education or the image of the country.
“The congress therefore wishes to appeal to the government to end further suffering of students by urgently bringing to an end the protracted strike by members of ASUP and COEASU.
“Government’s serial breach of agreements with the unions, especially in the education sector, has had a telling effect on the well-being of the economy generally and education in particular. It is saddening that government is fast acquiring for itself a reputation of a partner that cannot be trusted to keep agreements it voluntarily entered into.”
Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that the strike embarked upon by lecturers in Colleges of Education across the country be brought to an end.
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu Wogu, announced this when he addressed members of National Association of Nigerian Students’ Joint Campus Committee in Abuja on Tuesday.
He assured that the strike would be over soon. “Mr President has mandated that this industrial action by your teachers should be brought to an end.
“The president is determined to make sure that education is revamped from the state he met it. The grievances and demands of your teachers have received Federal Government’s attention.
Chairman of the students’ joint committee, Mr Adediwura Adesina, appealed to the minister to use his good offices to ensure that the strike was brought to an end.
“We understand and appreciate the way your ministry has been handling this issue so far. We are here to appeal to you, sir, to help us end the strike.
“The 2015 election is around the corner, we do not want any politician to use our students as thugs as they are presently roaming the streets’’, Adesina said.