INDUSTRIAL ACTION LOOMS IN EBONYI STATE COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Workers under the aegis of Joint Action Committee of Trade Unions in the Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo have issued a 14 day ultimatum to the State Government to resolve all lingering labour issues in the institution or face industrial action.
They gave the ultimatum during media briefing at NULGE Secretariat, Abakaliki.
The Trade Unions involved in the strike threat are College of Education Academic staff Union, COEASU, Senior Staff Union of College of Education in Nigeria, SSUCEON and Non Academic Staff Union, NASU Ebonyi State College of Education, Ikwo Chapter.
The Chairman of COEASU, Comrade Greg Eshaya while presenting a communiqué by the three Unions explained that they resolved to issue the ultimatum at their congresses after reviewing the intolerable conditions staff had been subjected to for years now.
He pointed out that their demands include full payment of staff salaries and the arrears since November, 2015, implementation of financial benefits of promotions since 2014, payment of arrears of 37% of CONPASS and CONTEDISS since 2011 and other outstanding arrears.
Comrade Eshaya emphasized that the option of ultimatum became inevitable after several attempts to draw government’s attention to the State of affairs in the institution failed.
The Chairman of the Non Academic Staff Union, Comrade Chinenye Onuenyim, explained that the Union had the backing of their national bodies and called on the State Government to act quickly to prevent another disruption of academic activities in the College.
Another Union Leader, Comrade Mike Edigbo urged the State Government to revisit reports of various committees it set up to look into the lingering labour issues in the College noting that beyond the structures in place, the institution was collapsing because of neglect.
Radio Nigeria gathered that as a result of poor condition of service, many qualified academics in the College had left for greener pastures elsewhere and that there had been industrial disquiet in the institution since 2015 following two weeks strike embarked upon by the Trade Unions.
AMECHI ODO