Colleges of education lecturers embark on one-month strike

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has embarked on a one-month strike, effective from June 14.

According to NAN, Smart Olugbeko, the COEASU president, jointly signed a communiqué regarding the industrial action with Ahmed Bazza, the general secretary of the union.

Olugbeko said the resolution was reached at the end of its national executive council (NEC) meeting held at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta state.

He said the resolution was also reached following the non-implementation of the agreements it entered with the federal government.

He disclosed that 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.

The union’s demands include non-commencement of renegotiation of FGN-COEASU 2010 agreement, non-release of N15 billion, and N18 billion revitalisation fund.

Others are non–implementation of 2014 needs assessment report, payment of promotion arrears, and payment of allowance to librarians.

Also included are the issues of poor funding across state-owned Colleges of Education and the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS).

According to Olugbeko, the NEC condemned the non-resolution of these lingering issues.

He said the union unanimously resolved that the total strike action suspended by the union in December 2018 be resumed immediately for four weeks in the first instance.

“NEC shall reconvene after the four weeks strike action to re-assess the level of government’s commitment on the issues for appropriate decision on way forward thenceforth,” he added.

“Every chapter congress across the federation should convene on June 14, to adequately inform the congress on the commencement of the strike action due the festering issues.

“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 added that all state-owned colleges already on industrial action to press home local demands should impress on their respective managements that the local strike shall continue.

He said that vice presidents/zonal coordinators shall monitor the compliance of chapters in their respective zones.

“Defaulting chapters shall be prevented from enjoying the gains of the struggle and earn themselves other sanctions,” he said.

“As NEC shall deem applicable based on normal Union regulations pertaining to collective bargaining.”