Strike Paralyses Activities In Unity Schools

The four-day warning
strike embarked upon by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), Federal Ministry of Education unit has paralysed activities in the 104 unity schools throughout the country.
When The Tide visited the Federal Government College near Rumuokoro, Port Harcourt and Federal Government Girls’ College, Abuloma respectively the schools gates were firmly locked.
Our correspondent was simply told by the security men at the gates to go back.
On further enquiries, The Tide was told that the union officials came and directed the security men not to allow any day students in or boarding students out including staff of the school.
All efforts made by The Tide to speak with the principals proved abortive.
The Tide later visited the ASCSN office at Moscow Road, Port Harcourt where the union’s secretary, Comrade Princeweill Akama confirmed the 4-day warning strike.
He said the warning strike was embarked upon by the union members in the Federal Ministry of Education unit to draw Federal Government’s attention to the non payment of promotion arrears owed the union members for the past years.
He said the union was aware that the money had been released for the payment of the outstanding promotional arrears but officials of the Federal Ministry of Education have refused to pay the affected staff.
Akama said the union wanted the Federal Government to implement all policies agreed upon with the union.
He said failure of the federal government to listen to the demands of the union after the 4-day warning strike, the union will embark on full industrial action to cripple the educational sector.
He said the union was ever determined to ensure that all outstanding arrears owed its members are cleared by the federal government within the shortest possible time.

Philip Okparaji