South East breaking News
By Steve Unegbu
The Joint Action Committee of Non – Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU ) Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike chapter has joined her national body in the 3 days protest March action over the alleged insincerity of the federal government in dealing with the union.
Addressing the gathering of the Union members during the protest at Michael Okpara university of Agriculture Umudike,the Chairman ,Comrade Ken Njoku said “we are expressing our displeasure over the federal government insincerity in dealing with the union”
According to him ,” the Joint Action of Committee (JAC) of NASU and SSANU met on Friday, 8th January ,2021 at Bolton White hotel Abuja to review the memorandum of understanding (MoU) reached and signed with the federal government on Tuesday, 20th October, 2020 at the Honorable Minister’s conference room ,Federal ministry of Labour and Employment “
In his words , ” the federal government had agreed that all the issues we are demanding would be addressed before the end of 2020 ,now we are in 2021 yet the federal government has not done that ,the federal government has failed “
Comrade Njoku said the leadership after exhausting all peaceful means to resolve the issues and the federal government failed to listen and has continued to renege over a simple understanding,hence the national leadership has directed a 3 days protest as warning strike .
He revealed that the union has to protest the issues of inconsistencies in Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information system (IPPIS ) payments ,Non-Payment of Earned Allowance (EA), Non -payment of Arrears of Minimum Wage ,Delay in renegotiation of FGN/NASU and SSANU 2009 Agreements ,Non- payment of retirement benefits of outcome members, teaching staff usurping Headships of Non- teaching units in clear violation of condition of service and Establishment procedure Neglect and poor funding of State universities and Non- constitution of visitation panels for universities.
He noted that the federal government’s insensitivity and insincerity in dealing with the union was becoming unbearable, adding that ,” if at the end of the 3 days protest and the federal government remains adamant ,I tell us ,that the next step will not be a pleasant one ” he said
He therefore, called on the federal government to make sure that the joint Action Committee of NASU and SSANU members are given better environment to work so as to carry out their duties very well