by crossriverwatch admin
“We have resolved as a group to join the ongoing national indefinite strike as directed by our national council, injustice to one is injustice to all”.
This is the assertion of the Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa chapter of College of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU Chairman, Comrade Agba Linus while speaking with CrossRiverWatch after his chapter’s meeting on Monday 6th of January 7, 2014 held within the college premises.
He said that “Apart from the national issues we at the state level have more pressing issues with our state government under the astute leadership of Sen. Imoke Liyel that we consider this a misdemeanor, just as the national strike is indefinite, ours is more indefinite because we can’t be cheated anymore at our own expense”.
The academic doctor lamented bitterly about the recent policy on promotion introduced by the Head of Service of the state, Mrs. Mary-Theresa Ikwen.
He said, “She placed embargo on promotion, how does she expect both academic and non-academic staffs of tertiary institutions to take a general promotion examination meant for ordinary civil servants.
“Does she knows that we publish papers, attend conferences and continuously researching and transmit preserved knowledge which has a clear gulf with other areas of civil service. Indeed no facet of life can be without us the teachers; we have a governing council that as part of its statutory role is the one saddled with the responsibility of approving our promotion while her duty is to transmit the outcome to the state government unaltered”.
He disclosed that some of their grievances with the Cross Rive State Government include: “Migration of lower cadre is yet to be done; three years ago there was a new salary policy as a result, chief lecturers were lifted to level 14 and 15 and a corresponding move should’ve been made at the lower level which till now has not been done.
“Some of our colleagues were promoted in 2012 and implementation done January 2013 which attracts some financial benefits to them but nothing has been paid which means they’re owed 12 months arrears. Our pay slip wrongly says we are to retire at age 60 which is a lie because 65 is the correct age from the recent adjustment made on the retirement age and as we speak no staff of this college has the documented condition of service we work under, if we do then all this wanton and frivolous adjustment would have not been coming up”.
The COEASU chair stated that “Before we at the state level will call off our strike even if the national is called off or suspended is till (1.) The migration of staff of the lower cadre to their rightful level is done, (2.) The errors in our pay slip must be corrected (3.) Promoted staffs should be paid their 12 months arrears. (4.) And lastly, copies of the condition of service must be given to all the staffs of this noble Alma meter so that we won’t be working without guide, thereby in a vacuum”.
Comrade Agba who doubles as the south-south coordinator of COEASU also asserted that at that level also they have joined the strike. “At the level of the south-south we have also joined the strike pending till when the government will meet our demands”. He maintained that “This media chat is seconded by my two secretaries respectively, Bar. ThankGod Ogboma south-south zone and Comrade Valentine Ntui Akamkpa chapter”, Dr. Linus said.
He urged parents/guardians and students not to be disheartened by their move because it is for the general good of the students who will one day wear their shoes.
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