By Auwal Mohammed
Gombe (Nigeria) — Management of Federal College of Education (Technical) Gombe in northeast Nigeria, says it is invoking the no work, no pay policy in response to the indefinite strike action embarked upon by lecturers of the college.This was contained in a statement issued Sunday by Ibrahim Shehu, Director, Establishment and Council Affairs on behalf of the registrar of the college and made available to AFRICA PRIME NEWS in Gombe.
The statement describes the strike action embarked upon by lecturers of the college, under the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) as uncalled for, adding that the management of the college has no option but to apply the policy in line with directives of the Nigerian government.
The management of the college has accused the lecturers of insensitivity to its constraints, especially with the prevailing financial situation in the country.
In the statement, Shehu explains that the crisis leading to the indefinite strike began shortly after the present executive of COEASU were inaugurated in April this year.
He said that precisely on April 19, 2017, the union spproached the college management with some demands which include the isssue of salary shortfalls from February to date, outstanding payment of Peculiar Academic Allowance (PAA) arrears and inclusion of same in their monthly salaries among others.
“The college management informed COEASU that the college finances cannot accomodate their demands at the moment. However, one month PPA and 25 percent of the Conference Attendance Allowance (CAA) were paid to the academic staff. It was agreed that when the federal government releases the funds for 2015 promotion arrears and salary shortfalls, these would be paid without delay,” the statement added.
Shehu added that barely a month after, fCOEASU wrote the management requesting for the payment of the balance of 50 percent of the CAA, PAA as well as the shortfalls in salaries and 2015 promotion arrears.
He said to that end, the college management set up a committee to negotiate with COEASU but could not reach conclusive agreement as the lecturers insisted that they must be paid the balance of the PAA and atleast one month of the CAA despite the financial constraint faced by the college.
The statement further explained that the college governing council, in its inaugural meeting held on June 20, 2017, met with COEASU and made an offer to pay 25 percent of the CAA for 2016/2017 session.
“COEASU decided to embark on three days warning strike beginning from Wednesday, July 5, to Friday, July 7. On the expiration of the 3 days warning strike, COEASU declared an indefinite strike with effect from Tuesday, July 11, 2017,” it said.
In reaction to news report suggesting that lecturers at the college are demanding for the sack of the provost and bursar, Shehu in the statement says, the matter was never discussed at any time with COEASU either at council, management or COEASU congress.
The management further denies that the college was investigated by any panel, stressing that claims by COEASU that the bursar of the institution was indicted by a panel “is a figment of their imagination.”
