Lecturers In Colleges Of Education Threaten To Embark On Indefinite Strike

Lecturers in Colleges of Education under the auspices of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) have threatened to embark on an indefinite strike.

The union, which made this known on Friday, accused the federal government of stalling the growth of workers in the nation’s Colleges of Education through the Non promotion of lecturers in the system and withholding their checkoff dues in total violation of the Trade Union Act.

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The Nation reports that the lecturers are also expressing displeasure with the government over the stalling of renegotiation of its agreement with unions in the Sector.

It further blamed the leadership of the Committee of Provosts for the stalled renegotiation and called on the Minister of Education to immediately call the leadership to order or face a nationwide Industrial action.

Speaking with newsmen in Abuja, National President of the Union, Comrade Nuhu Ogirima said the union was giving the government two weeks within which to call the Chairman of the Committee of Provost, Prof Okechukwu Ogbuagu to order and recommence the renegotiation or face what he called system shut down”

He also accused the Accountant General of the Federation of withholding check off dues of members of the union and contributions of staff into the staff welfare cooperative society in contravention of the Trade Union Act.

While describing the action of the Accountant General as unacceptable, Comrade Ogirima said the Trade Union Act stipulates that check off dues shall be deducted from staff and remitted to the unions within two weeks, pointing out that it is an act of illegality for the government, through the Accountant General to hold on to union dues.