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Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour & Employment

Striking Research Workers threaten to storm Abuja on mass protest

Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour & Productivity
By Joan Nwagwu
Workers of Research Institutions across the country on Monday threatened to embark on a mass protest in Abuja, if the Federal Government failed to meet the demands of the striking unions.

The workers are currently on strike to demand the payment of about N9 billion arrears from the Federal Government.

The workers are made up of members of the the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU).

It would be recalled that the unions embarked on an indefinite nationwide strike on Dec 10, 2017 over non- implementation of agreement entered with the Federal Government in 2010.

Mr Peters Adeyemi, Chairman, Joint Research and Allied Institutions Staff Union (JORAISU), while speaking at a news conference in Abuja said that government had refused to take any measure aimed at addressing their demands.

Adeyeni said that though the government has acknowledged the legitimacy of the ongoing strike action, but it need to address the demands of the union.

“The national leadership of JORAISU has so far held 33 meetings with the Federal Government and one with the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Colleges and Institutions between year 2010 and year 2018.

“We have also issued 155 days ultimatum to government on the matter including the last issued on Oct. 30th, 2017 for which all the Research and Allied Institutions commenced an ongoing strike action on Nov. 14th, 2017.

“These were all geared towards getting the Federal Government to act positively on our demands and we are shock that government can remain unconcerned and so incentive to the situation.

“That is where all the Research and Allied Institutions in Nigeria have been totally and completely grounded for about 2 months and 22 days without addressing the situation, ‘’he said.

The Chairman added that the attitude of Government confirms the fact that government do not believe in the ideology that Nigeria would attain technological development in a few years’ time.

He noted that the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe has informed the unions that government would speedily address the issues in disputes.

“That a Memo would be presented to the Federal Executive Council for the approval of about N9 billion naira required for the payment of the 12 months’ arrears on when they held a meeting in Dec. 2017, ‘’Adeyemi said.

Adeyemi appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to take a positive look at the Memo and grant the needed approval to the Memo when presented with a view to ending the ongoing strike.

He, however, said since the Federal Government was yet to meet their demands, the strike would continue.

“It must be total and comprehensive as no concession of any sort shall be granted to any management and government until the issues in dispute are resolved, ‘’he added.

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