Delta Polytechnics Workers Begin Indefinite Strike
Delta
Polytechnics Workers Begin Indefinite Strike
The academic and non-academic staff
unions of the three institutions began striking on Monday, paralyzing academic
activities in the affected polytechnics.
Workers at
polytechnics in Otefe-Oghara, Ogwashi-Uku and Ozoro, Delta State have embarked
on an indefinite strike over what they termed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa's
highhandedness, anti-education policies, and his refusal to honor the
memorandum of understanding (MoU) entered into with the institutions.
The academic and non-academic
staff unions of the three institutions began striking on Monday, paralyzing
academic activities in the affected polytechnics.
Speaking
with SaharaReporters, a rector at one of the polytechnics who pleaded anonymity
said the unions decided to go on strike in order to press home their demands.
According
to him, three months ago, Mr. Okowa, through the head of the service, Mr.
Bayoko, entered into a MoU with the Academic Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the
Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) and the Non-Academic
Staff Union (NASU), but the governor has yet to honor the deal.
“Certain
benefits put in place by former Governor Uduaghan's administration to enjoy by
the three unions - ASUP, NASU, and SSANIP - have been stopped indefinitely.
Before Uduaghan left office, he signed for the unions the new scheme of
service, but immediately after Okowa came into office, he revoked that, among
other things. The unions are tired of Okowa's highhandedness and anti-education
policies,” the rector said.
“He
has vehemently refused to honor the MoU entered into with the institutions. Can
you imagine that since Monday, when the institutions went on strike, the
governor has not deemed fit to reach out to these unions? Instead, he traveled
to Abuja for PDP meetings. Governor Okowa is killing education in Delta State,”
he lamented.
Speaking
to SaharaReporters, some members of ASUP, SSANIP and NASU vowed that until Mr.
Okowa reaches out to the unions, the polytechnics would remain closed.
“Because
of the strike, the exam activities that were supposed to start at Delta State
Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku have been disrupted. Across the three polytechnics,
there are no lectures and all staff have stayed away in obedience to the call
to down tools till further notice. The situation remains the same everywhere,”
a union member said.
The
chairman of the joint unions, Thomas Ojuye, told SaharaReporters that the state
government has failed to revisit the understanding reached at the meeting the
unions held with the Commissioner for Higher Education, Mr. Jude Sinebe, earlier
this year and lamented its refusal to begin full implementation of the new
revised scheme of services for polytechnics and other similar tertiary
institutions in Nigeria.
According
to Mr. Ojuye, the issues that need to be addressed include “stoppage of
promotion from the Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Scheme (CONTISS) 11
to 13, non-implementation of migration of technologists, executive and
technical officers, instructors and confidential secretaries cadre on CONTISS
12 and above, migration of CONTISS 11 and below, stoppage of payment of
promotion arrears, withdrawal of 65 years retirement policy, and the dismissal
of the chairmen of ASUP and NASU in Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku.
“In
the light of the above lingering issues since 2014 and the state government’s
indiscreet disposition to the demands of staff of the respective polytechnics
after the unions had reached an understanding in the meeting previously held
with the Commissioner for Higher Education, the chairmen of the Governing Council,
rectors and joint union executives of the state-owned Polytechnics, the unions
took the strike action, on Monday.” Mr. Ojuye said.
While
strongly urging the striking workers to remain steadfast and united as they
prepare for a long battle to address the challenges facing the unions, Mr.
Ojuye assured members that there would be light at the end of the tunnel.