Workers in Akwa Ibom state university declare indefinite strike

The Non-academic Staff Union (NASU) of the Akwa Ibom State University, Ikot Akpaden, has declared an indefinite strike to press home their demands for improved funding of the institution, an industrial action scheduled to start on Thursday.

Penpushing reports that the chairman of the union in the university, Comrade Mefiok Umanah, made this known in a statement explaining that the decision was taken on Tuesday at the Obio Akpa campus of the university. at the meeting of affiliate groups of the union.

The Non-academic Staff Union (NASU) boss said this include the Joint Action Committee, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian University and the National Association of Academic Technologies, emphasizing that the congress resolved that the industrial action shall be total and comprehensive.

Penpushing further reports that Umanah said the union had earlier written at least three letters stating their grievances to the Governor, Umo Eno, but that they have not gotten any response, stressing that the issues are poor funding of the institution, non-payment of salary arrears, leave grants and 13th month salary to workers in the university.

The chairman said others include lack of hostels and non-constitution of the Governing Council for the university, implementation of hazard allowance at approved rate and release of capital allocation for the institution.

Penpushing also reports that Umanah, pointed out that workers in the institution are currently receiving N2,000 as hazard allowance against the agreed rate of N15,000 for junior staff and N30,000 for senior staff.

The chairman of the Non-academic Staff Union (NASU) said the university only powers its generator for two hours a day, precisely from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, lamenting that one is left to ask what sort of research is done in the institution.

Penpushing reports that as at the time of filing this report the Commissioner for Education, in the state Idongesit Etiebet, was yet to respond to the development nor issue any official statement about the impending strike

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