Unity schools begin indefinite strike on Monday

Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria has directed its members in 104 Federal Unity Colleges throughout the country to commence an indefinite strike with effect from Monday next week over non-payment of arrears and entitlements estimated at N1.8bn.

A statement on Friday in Abuja by the Secretary-General of ASCSN, Mr. Alade Lawal, said its also involved in the strike were Education Officers in the Federal Ministry of Education and Inspectorate Departments.



“Since the management of the Federal Ministry of Education has refused to pay the outstanding salaries and allowances, the teeming members of the union in the Ministry of Education, including those in the 104 Federal Unity Colleges, will embarked on an indefinite strike till the outstanding salaries, promotion arrears, and other entitlements are paid in full.

“All strategic stakeholders, such as royal fathers, religious leaders, civil society groups, parents and guardians, old students groups of the Federal Unity Colleges, eminent citizens should prevail on the Federal Government to pay all the outstanding salaries and allowances including promotion arrears instead of diverting attention by calling on the union to call off the strike,” the ASCSN stated.

According to Lawal, the decision followed the failure of the Federal Government to pay the memebers their outstanding salaries and promotion arrears as well as other entitlements amounting to about N1.8bn.

He stated that the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education as well as the Inspectorate Departments of the Ministry throughout the country would also be under lock and key from Monday.

He said, “The issues in dispute include but not limited to non-payment of outstanding promotion arrears for 2007-2010 and the balance of 2011 promotion arrears; promotion arrears for 2012-2013 and unpaid salaries to some staff for July, August, September, and October 2013;

“Others are end-of-year incentives; non-payment of 1st 28 days in lieu of hotel accommodation; 2010 Head of Service organised mandatory training allowance, repatriation allowance, Duty Tour Allowance; non-placement of promoted officers, among others.”