NIGERIA: colleges of edication to join asuu on strike

Colleges of education lecturers have issued a final strike notice to the Federal Government, urging it to address the problems in the sector or risk an industrial action.

The teachers, under the auspices of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, stated this on Monday as they began a seven-day sensitisation of their members across the country.

The lecturers said their action was preparatory to an industrial dispute should the FG persist in its “insensitivity to the challenges facing the sector.”

The union, on August 18, had earlier served a 21-day strike notice on the FG.

In the August 15 letter to the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa’i, entitled “Re: Festering Issues Prone to Industrial Action: An Ultimatum”, the union issued a 14-day ultimatum for the government to meet its demands.

The ultimatum expired on Thursday, prompting the union to write a fresh letter to Rufa’i, after its National Executive Council meeting held on September 4, to review the situation.

In the latest letter dated September 6, addressed to the minister, the teachers vowed to embark on strike at the expiry of the mobilisation.

The COEASU President, Asagha Nkoro, and the General Secretary, Nuhu Ogirima, signed the letter.

The union leaders accused some state governments of the non-remittance of pension deductions to the respective Pension Funds Administrators, as well as double-dealing in the affairs of the union.

They also accused the FG of not implementing faithfully the 2010 agreementit signed with the union.