Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum, Yobe State chapter, have embarked on an indefinite strike over the non-payment of outstanding allowances and other demands from the college management.
It was gathered that the union members’ agitations led by the branch Chairman of COEASU disrupted academic activities at the institution and sent the students out of the campus.
The COEASU Branch Chairman, Muntari Sa’ad, said that the college management had refused to honour an agreement reached with the union.
According to him, the agreement reached with the unions hinged on the payment of Peculiar Academic Allowance (PAA) among others.
He said that the Academic Staff of the College were been overworked yet their welfare was not cared for.
Sa’ad explained that the unions had initially embarked on a warning strike in 2016 .
He said, “The strike began today based on some unattended agitations of the union . By tradition, the college management has been recalcitrant to the agitations of our members . “The management finds it difficult to honour the demands of the Academic Staff of the college.
“Let me inform you that our Provost is using intimidation, fear and even blackmail to silence every one. He succeeded in silencing the entire management team. However, the resisted all forms of techniques employed by the provost. The Congress is witnessing the collapse of the college before our very eyes.
During the Congress meeting I pointed out to all COEASU members that “the limits of tyrants are prescribed by those whom they oppress ” . “There we were informing the union member to take their destiny on their hands as a result of the fact that “they are the one to blow their own trumpet so that they could be heard otherwise nobody will blow it for them” and their refusal to blow it will tantamount to suffering in silence.”
In a vote of no confidence letter written to Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, by the union dated 27th March, 2017 it reads: “In COEASU Congress meeting held today Monday, 27th March 2017, the COEASU Congress FCE (T), Potiskum has mandated the COEASU Executive to write and inform you.
“Today’s Congress meeting emanated from another emergency COEASU Congress meeting held on Thursday 23rd March, 2017 in which COEASU wrote a letter to your office.
“A motion was moved by a Congress members to pass a vote of no confidence on the leadership of the College Provost and it was seconded by two Congress members and there was no counter motion. Attached with this letter are attendance sheets for the meeting.
“The contending issues listed in this letter were the same lingering issues that bedevilled the college and there were three mediations which took place at the instant of the Executive Secretary NCCE between the COEASU Executive and the College Management yet all the agreement reached as a result of the three mediations were not respected by the College Management.”
The Provost of the College, Madu Muhammad, declined to comment more on the matter.
He said, “For now I think I should not talk, let’s wait and see”.
