The academic and non-academic staff unions of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Lagos on Friday downed tools over non-payment of increment and promotion arrears.
The unions are the institution’s chapter of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education in Nigeria and Non-Academic Staff Union.
They are demanding arrears of promotion and increment from October, 2013 till date.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the three unions staged a peaceful rally at the college’s premises.
They carried placards with inscriptions such as: “Pay our 16 months 2013 annual increment arrears”, “Welfare of staff is paramount to productivity”, and “We say no to oppression.”
Taiwo Olayanju, the institution’s Chairman of COEASU, said that the unions embarked on an indefinite strike following expiration of a 14-day ultimatum they gave to the authorities to meet the demands.
Olayanju noted that the ultimatum began on January 15.
He said: “We demand our increment and promotion arrears because it is our entitlement.
“We must get our money.
“The strike commences immediately and it will be total, comprehensive and indefinite.
“We do not want to see any member of staff in the campus, claiming to be performing essential service or whatsoever.”
Ogunmokun Oladapo, Chairman of NASU, FCE (T), Akoka chapter, said that the rally was staged because the authorities had yet to meet the demands.
Oladapo claimed that out of the 21 Federal Colleges of Education in Nigeria, only the college had yet to pay the arrears.
“We wonder why only our college should be left out since October, 2013; even our shift allowance is still unpaid,” he said.
Nicolas Ogbusuo, the Chairman of the institution’s chapter of SSUCOEN, said that the unions had been patient for 16 months.
Ogbusuo hoped that the strike would prompt the authorities to take necessary measures to pay the arrears.
He said: “We are open for discussions anytime.
“All we want is that our demands are met in full.”
The Provost of the college, Dr. Sijibomi Olusanya, told NAN that the promotion arrears and increment would be paid as soon as funds were available.