Adams Abonu in Lafia
Citing government’s refusal to enhance the welfare of workers state-owned tertiary institutions in Nasarawa have embarked on an indefinite strike.
Institutions involved in the action include College of Education, Akwanga, College of Agriculture, Lafia and the Nasarawa State, Polytechnic, Lafia.
This industrial action is also coming after about five times in the past two years, leading to significant lose of academic and instruction time.
The workers, under the aegis of the Joint Union of Tertiary Institutions, told journalists in Lafia that they had exhausted avenues toward an amicable resolution of the dispute and were left with no alternative.
According to Mr. Samuel Bashayi, chairman of the state’s chapter of JUTI, the workers resolved to shut down the institutions at a meeting held at the state polytechnic, Lafia, on April 4.
He said the state government had been “very insensitive” to the plight of the workers and had equally failed to address issues impeding effective service delivery.
“The government has also failed to implement agreements reached between the workers and the government, through the Governing Councils of the institutions,” he added.
He regretted that the union’s repeated notices were ignored, and listed key areas of concern to include promotion, annual increment, arrears, among others.
“Instead of paying our allowances, the government has chosen to dare us by removing even the allowances we used to take for granted,” he said.
Bashayi advised workers to remain at home and await further directives.
THISDAY’s visit to the three institutions of higher learning saw a full compliance with the industrial action.
