NAN-H-89
Unions
By Monday Ijeh
Abuja, Jan. 29, 2018 (NAN) The Joint Research and Allied Institutions Sector Unions (JORAISU), the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) branch have protested the Federal Government delay in the implementation of the agreement reached with the unions.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the protest at Sheda Science and Technology Complex (SHESTCO), near Kwali on Monday reports that the protesters converged along Abuja-Lokoja road chanting solidarity songs.
NAN reports that JORAISU is made up of the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Allied Institutions (SSAUTHRIAI), Academic Staff Union of Research Institutes (ASURI) and the Non- Academic Staff Union (NASU).
Dr Ighalo Odiagbe, the Chairman of ASURI said the peaceful protest was to press home the implementation of agreement reached between the Federal Government and the unions.
He said the implementation of arrears in salary, establishment of a coordinating body for research and development institutions, retirement age elongation to 65 years and increased funding were part of the agreement.
Odiagbe said research institutes cut across several ministries, adding that the establishment of a coordinating body would harmonise the dealings of the institutions with the Federal Government.
Mr Olufemi Alabi, the Chairman of NASU said the demands of the workers were reasonable, adding that it was an agreement reached by the Federal Government.
He said it was unreasonable not to honour agreement, adding that the fact that the agreement was not reached by the present administration was not an excuse.
Mr Justine Nwokedi, the Chairman of SSAUTHRIAI had at the end of the protest delivered a letter to Prof. Ismail Junaidu, the Executive Secretary of NERDC for delivery to the Minister of Education.
Nwokedi in the letter said the protest was part of efforts to get the attention of the Federal Government to implement the agreement reached with the unions in 2011.
The letter jointly signed by the leadership of the three unions said JORAISU had on Nov. 14, 2017 called for an indefinite strike to press home its demand.
He said the strike was called after several efforts to get the attention of the Federal Government to honour and implement the agreement.
“To our dismay, the Federal Government has up till this moment not attended to the plight of our members thereby allowing the research sector, which is the backbone of development to be paralysed.
“Given the forgoing, we enjoin you to relay our displeasure to the appropriate authorities,” he said.
Junaidu commended the worker for the peace maintained during the protest and pledged to deliver the letter to the appropriate authority. (NAN)
IMC/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf