It’s illogical for varsity JAC to pressure members on strike

The Akwa Ibom State government has described the call for resumption of strike by the Joint Action Committee of the state university in Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat-Enin Local Government Area of the state as unnecessary and needless, as it has acceded to all their demands.

The state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, said this while reacting to the call for resumption of strike by the JAC of the university, comprising the Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Associated Institution, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, and the National Association of Academic Technologists

The unions had announced plans to resume indefinite strike from Monday, next week, the government had failed to address their demands more than one month after the state governor, Umo Eno, intervened and approved for payment all contending issues in their demands.

Speaking in an interview with journalists on Tuesday, Etiebet said such proposed industrial action was needless as Eno had already directed payments in lieu of their demands.

Etiebet said, “All the financial demands that the JAC of NASU, SSANU and NAAT of Akwa Ibom State University presented to the governor as their reason for the earlier strike are being addressed as directed by the governor.

“These include the payment of 2023 leave grant, 2023 13th month salary, and approval for payment of palliative for 2023.

“The governor has approved that all of these be paid. But remember, due process has to be followed so that we don’t end up making mistakes.”

On the constitution of governing council for the university, the commissioner noted that “government is in the process of constituting governing councils for all its tertiary institutions.”

The commissioner noted that the process of building hostels for the students was ongoing, as the state government had arranged with a private firm for a Public-Private-Partnership model for the construction of new hostel blocks in the school campus.

Mrs Etiebet wondered why a governor who has been consistent in keeping to his promises to Akwa Ibom people across sectors would have to be threatened with a strike over an issue being sorted out.

She averred, “That should not apply to Governor Eno. When he approved additional N2.7 billion yesterday for the continuous payment of gratuities to retirees in the state, there was neither protest nor strike action by NLC, NUT or even the retirees. Let us continue to believe in him as he believes in good governance.”

She appealed to the unions to continue to show understanding as the payments gradually come to fruition.