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From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Members of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Ebonyi State College of Education chapter, have issued seven days fresh warning strike over poor condition of service.
The union had last month, issued a 14-day ultimatum to the college management and state government to address their welfare which expired last week.
The union said the poor condition of service its members are facing had brought untold hardship to them, leading to the death of eight of them last year
Its Chairman, Dr. Nnachi Ama, while addressing journalists in Abakaliki, the state capital, revealed that seven members of the union were critically ill and couldn’t afford to pay their medical treatment because of a poor pay package.
He explained that the college presently operates with 87 percent 2010 salary structure, whereas all other colleges operate with 2024 salary structure.
He said the staff of the college still receive 30,000 minimum wage against 70,000 which is now operational.
“Congress observed with total dismay the ugly and pitiful working conditions of the college staff. Notably, the college presently operates with 87 percent 2010 salary structure, even as other colleges of education operate with 2024 salary structure.
“It is important for us to place on record that the staff of Ebonyi State College of Education still receives 30,000 minimum wage against 70,000 which is operational now.
“And to that effect, many staff of the college still receive less than 70,000 as monthly salaries, whereas the governor in his magnanimity had added 20,000 to the 70,000 that is minimum wage, which means some receive 90,000 as minimum wage.
“Congress felt so concerned that college staff who are entitled to pension and gratuity do not enjoy such and so go home without any terminal benefits on retirement.
“Our staff die in their numbers because of the harsh economic conditions we have found ourselves. For emphasis sake, just 2025, we buried eight members of the college staff who died of treatable ailments. They could not gain medical attention due to lack of funds.
“As we speak, we have not less than seven academic staff that are critically ill, resulting from their inability to take care of their health issues from a poor package.
“During the 2024 May Day, that is Workers’ Day celebration, the NLC address captured this issue of college salary. In response, the governor demanded that the college management should approach him for a lasting solution,” he said.
He blamed management of the college for not making efforts to address the ugly conditions of the staff.
Nnachi threatened that the union would embark on a warning strike if nothing was done to address their conditions.
“However, to date, nothing has happened. So, Congress found that no meaningful approach has been made by the college management to address all these ugly situations.
“The information gathered from the NLC chairman in his engagement with the governor recently revealed clearly that management has not met with the governor.
“This is, perhaps, the management staff enjoy full salary, a situation that is not applicable to other staff.
“Given the foregoing, the union hereby issues a 14-day ultimatum starting from Friday, February 27 on the following demands. One, immediate payment of staff full salary with 2024 cash salary structure.
“The management should, without further delay, engage with the governor to fulfil all necessary conditions for an insured payment of college staff pension and gratuity on retirement.
“Failure to implement both will leave the union with no other option than to embark on one strike.
“Congress is very much assured or optimistic that the management of the college will meet this demand to have continuous industrial harmony,” he stated.
However, after the expiration of the 14 days ultimatum, the union, this week, issued a seven-day warning strike.
A statement by its Chairman and Secretary, Dr. Nnachi Ama and Dr. Augustine Igwe respectfully, the union observed with dismay that the 14-day ultimatum which elapsed on March 13 didn’t yield the desired result.
It, therefore, demanded immediate payment of its staff full salary structure with 2024 CONPASS structure.
It also directed the college management to engage with the governor of the state to address their challenges without further delay.
“It is imperative to state that failure to implement the above will leave us with no other option than to embark on strike,” the statement said.
