By Oluwaseun Folorunso
The College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) is protesting the non-release of N15 billion and N18 billion revitalisation fund, among other failed agreements by the Federal Government.
In view of this, the union has embarked on a four-week strike over the non- implementation of the agreement by the Federal Government.
COEASU President, Smart Olugbeko, said this in a communiqué jointly signed by him and the union’s General Secretary, Ahmed Bazza, on Tuesday in Abuja.
“NEC shall reconvene after the four weeks of strike action to re-assess the level of government’s commitment on the issues for appropriate decision on the way forward thenceforth,” Mr Olugbeko said.
He noted that the union took the resolution at the end of its NEC meeting held at Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State.
Mr Olugbeko said the meeting was called to assess the level of responsible action by the Federal Government and the way forward upon the lapse of the 21-day ultimatum issued by the union on the lingering issues of the industrial concern.
“Leadership of the union at all levels (National, Zonal and Chapter) should embark on an emphatic media campaign towards seamless public awareness on the issues leading to the strike action.
“The strike action shall be total, and all members of the academic staff in all Colleges of Education (both Federal and State) must withdraw from all statutory duties without exemption,” he said.
The union demands include non-commencement of renegotiation of FGN-COEASU 2010 Agreement, non-release of N15 billion and N18 billion revitalisation fund.
The demand also include non-implementation of the 2014 Needs Assessment Report, payment of promotion arrears, payment of allowance to librarians, and implementation of the consequence of the implementation of CONTISS15 on lower cadres.
Others are poor funding and conditions across state-owned Colleges of Education, University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) and refusal to mainstream demonstration school staff on the payroll of the colleges.
“Defaulting chapters shall be prevented from enjoying the gains of the struggle and earn themselves other sanctions.
“As NEC shall deem applicable based on normal Union regulations pertaining to Collective Bargaining,” he added.