The Joint Action Committee of industrial unions in Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) has defied the school management’s resumption of duty order by calling on their members to continue sit-at-home directive until all their pressing demands are settled.
The committee comprises Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational, Associated Institutions (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAATI).
The workers began the industrial strike one-month-two-weeks ago pressing home payment of their 2020 leave grant and the 2020 backlog of 25 per cent salaries for eight months, among others.
This is sequel to a directive by John E. Udo, the university’s registrar dated June 3, 2021 that ”The Vice-Chancellor has directed all staff members of Akwa Ibom State University to return to their duty posts by Monday, June 07, 2021 and that payment of salaries from the month of June 2021 will be based on ‘no work no pay’ Government policy.
”The Vice-Chancellor has appealed to all members of staff to comply accordingly,’’ the release stated.
”That JAC is aghast by the level insensitivity the university management has displayed towards the plight of workers in Akwa Ibom State University.
”JAC observes with dismay the fact that the university management who is in flagrant contravention of extant contract Laws/Rules, has gone further through the instrumentality of above quoted memo to display its willful intention not to pay workers salary as contained in the Terms of Contract of these workers which is also a product of Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
”JAC wishes to state further that the leadership of JAC is presently meeting with the government with a view to amicably resolving the present impasse. However, the conciliatory meetings are yet to be concluded and agreement (s) is/are to be reached.
”That in furtherance to No. 3 above, JAC leadership do hereby urge all members to continue with the sit-at-home directive as was resolved in the JAC Congress of 19th May, 2021,’’ the release added.
The release dated June 5 was signed by Imeh Okop, chairperson ASUU and secretary, Ofonmbuk Atakpa; Idongesit John, NASU Chairman and secretary, Mefiok Umanah; Emmanuel Okon, Chairperson, SSANU Chairman, and secretary, Blessing Dennis; Ndipmo Udoakpan, chairman of NAAT and secretary, Israel Inyang.
The release, therefore, directed their task force committee members to be alive to their duty in both campuses.
