13 November 2008
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the federal government to take proactive steps to avert the impending nationwide strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) over welfare of their members.
In a letter to the Minister of Education, the congress said there was the need for the urgent intervention by the federal government to prevent a national strike across the polytechnics in the country.
"The NLC on Tuesday November 4, 2008 had a tough time talking the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) out of a nationwide strike which was to commence the next day.
Out of deference to Congress, the union agreed to shelve the strike by two weeks. The main issues in contention are the alleged non-implementation of CONTISS 15 and a number of agreements," the congress said.
The letter signed by the General Secretary of the NLC Comrade John Odah said where staff of educational institutions are aggrieved, the elementary step the feral government should take was to dialogue with them with a view to resolving the contentious issues amicably.
The NLC also described as unfortunate and "quite unhelpful" the decision to ignore the protest letters from SSANIP by the Education Ministry, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the rectors of the polytechnics across the country.
The congress therefore called on the officials of the Education Ministry to take advantage of the new ultimatum by entering into negotiations or dialogue with the leaders of unions in the polytechnics.
Also, national president of ASUP Comrade Mohammed Ali Kabir has called on the federal government to dialogue with the union over its demands for the enhancement of the welfare of its members or face a nationwide strike.
He said if government fails to address grievances of ASUP which include early retirement, new salary structure, non-implementation of CONTISS 15 and career progress, among other things, the union will be left with no option but to embark on an indefinite strike.
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