16th August, 2017
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Ebonyi College of Education, Ikwo Chapter, has decried the poor condition of service of the workers of the institution.
The union’s Chairman, Mr Greg Esheye, who briefed journalists on Wednesday in Abakaliki, at the end of the chapter’s congress appealed to Ebonyi Government to redress the situation.
Esheye said that the poor working condition of both academic and non academic staff of the college was deplorable.
According to him, the poor condition that workers are subjected to, undermined efficiency and staff productivity, stressing that the morale of the workers was low.
The chapter chairman called on both the state government and school management to proffer credible solutions to issues raised.
He stressed that quick action would save the institution from total academic collapse.
Esheye who listed no fewer than eight issues of concern called on Ebonyi Government and the college management to address the issues.
He listed them as: payment of incomplete salaries to staff of the institution since 2015, non implementation of annual increments in staff salaries since 2015, non release of staff promotions since 2014.
Others are: nonpayment of arrears of 37 per cent of CONPCASS since 2011, non gazetting of the college by Ebonyi Government, inability to produce conditions of service after two years of the Governing Council inauguration.
He also noted the nonpayment of terminal benefits to dead and retired members of staff and the inability of the institution to pay July salary to workers.
“This situation is impacting negatively in teaching and learning as the college continues to lose its academic staff who move in droves in search of greener pastures.
“We therefore beckon on all authorities concerned to act fast to address the situation so as to give hope to the children of the poor who constitute the bulk of the students’ population of the school, ” Esheye said.
The union reiterated its commitment to adopting constructive dialogue and engagement to seek solution to the problems affecting members.
COEASU further urged the government to release the July subvention allegedly responsible for nonpayment of July salary and also enjoined the management to look into other areas of revenue sources.
“We urge the Provost, Prof. Silas Omebe and the management to explore other areas, especially the agricultural sector to beef up the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the college, ” he added.