NASU General Secretary, Mr. Peters Adeyemi
By Damilola Oyedele
The Joint Research and Allied Institutions Sector Unions (JORAISU) have
accused the Federal Government of indifference to the ongoing strike by
the unions, as the strike enters its fourth week without any word from
the government or its representatives.
JORAISU is made up of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and
Associated Institutions (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of
Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated
Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI) and the Academic Staff Union of Research
Institutions (ASURI).
Addressing a recent media briefing in Abuja, NASU General Secretary,
Mr. Peters Adeyemi, said the genesis of the strike is the refusal of the
government to implement the agreement signed with the research workers
in 2011for a new salary structure for the workers.
Adeyemi chronicled the struggle for a review of salary structure, allowances and provision of conducive working environment, which started in July 2008 before an agreement was finally reached in 2011.
Flanked by the General Secretaries of SSAUTHRIAI and ASURI, M.O Akinade and Theo Ndubuaku, he alleged that the unions at several times have written letters to the Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Labour and have not received any favourable response from them.
He added that at various times, the unions have had to resume strike, and suspend it after the officials of the government promised to see to the implementation of the new salary structure only for them to fail as soon as the strike is suspended.
Adeyemi chronicled the struggle for a review of salary structure, allowances and provision of conducive working environment, which started in July 2008 before an agreement was finally reached in 2011.
Flanked by the General Secretaries of SSAUTHRIAI and ASURI, M.O Akinade and Theo Ndubuaku, he alleged that the unions at several times have written letters to the Minister of Agriculture and Minister of Labour and have not received any favourable response from them.
He added that at various times, the unions have had to resume strike, and suspend it after the officials of the government promised to see to the implementation of the new salary structure only for them to fail as soon as the strike is suspended.
The last meeting with the Federal Government Committee was on August
27, 2012 where all parties agreed to meet after six weeks from that date
with the relevant agencies directed to compile the payroll of the
workers backdated from May 2009, to reach the financial implication of
the arrears in question.
“We therefore regret to state that nothing has been since August 27,
2012, and a letter written to Government on November 21, 2012 issuing a
14day ultimatum did not receive any respond. A follow up letter issued
on December 5, 2012 granting a 14 day ultimatum still did not receive
any respond,” Adeyemi added.
He disclosed that another letter was written to the government on
January 21, 2013 asking for an amicable resolution into the matter.
“This has been our plight on the issue in dispute with government and currently all the workers in the Research and Allied Institutions have resumed the suspended strike action since February 4, 2013 without any reaction from government up to the time of this conference,” he alleged.
“This has been our plight on the issue in dispute with government and currently all the workers in the Research and Allied Institutions have resumed the suspended strike action since February 4, 2013 without any reaction from government up to the time of this conference,” he alleged.
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