A’Ibom varsity workers serve fresh strike notice
The Joint Action Committee of the non-academic Staff Union of the Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot-Akpaden, Mkpat-Enin Local Government Area of the state has served a fresh strike notice to the state government.
The Joint Committee comprising of the non-academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institutions, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, and the National Association of Academic Technologists announced the decision to resume strike on Monday next week in a statement in Uyo on Tuesday.
The statement which was signed by SSANU’s chairman, Emmanuel Okon, NAAT chairman, Ndipmong Uduakpan, and NASU’s, Mefiok Umannah respectively was titled “Notification of Resumption of Industrial Action.”
Recall that the State Governor, Umo Eno, had on the 7th of February, 2024, intervened in the strike and approved the payment of 2023 leave grant, 2023 13th month salary, payment of palliative of 2023 as well as approved the constitution of the Governing Council, which were the issues in contention at the time.
But the unions lamented that more than one month after the governor’s intervention, none of the issues had been addressed.
The strike notice which was addressed to all members reads, “Kindly refer to our earlier communications on our proposed Industrial action which was suspended on Thursday 8th February 2024, following the outcome of our meeting with His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno on Wednesday 7th February 2024 at the Conference Room Governor’s Office, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where His Excellency had approved the following issues which were in contention:
“Approval for payment of 2023 Leave Grant. Approval for payment of 2023 13th month salary (Enomber 2023), Approval for payment of palliative of 2023. Approval for the constitution of the Governing Council, Approval for construction of Students’ Hostels.
“It was on the strength of the above that JAC suspended its proposed industrial action, doing same in good faith, the suspension was necessary to afford government time to make do their part of the bargain which it voluntarily entered into with JAC.
“It is therefore with deep concern that almost one month afterward, no payment in favour of (i) to (iii) above has been made by the government to our members.
“Consequently, the leadership of JAC wishes to inform all its teeming members that if the government fails to make do its part of the bargain by effecting payments on items listed in (i) to (iii) above between today Tuesday 5th March and Sunday 10th, 2024 all members of JAC should SIT-AT-HOME with effect from Monday 11th March 2024 until such a time that all the monies shall be paid.
“The said SIT-AT-HOME action shall be TOTAL and COMPREHENSIVE. All members are to please note the above instructions for total compliance.”
