The Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum, Yobe
State Chapter has embarked on an indefinite strike over the non -payment
of outstanding allowances and other demands from the College
Management.
It was gathered that the union members ’ agitations led to the
disruption of academic activities at the institution and sent the
Students out of the campus.
Speaking with DAILY POST on the matter, the COEASU branch Chairman,
Comrade Muntari Sa’ad said that the College management had refused to
honour an agreement reached with the Union sometimes back.
According to him , the agreement reached with the unions hinged on
the payment of Peculiar Academic Allowance (PAA) among others.
He said that the academic staff of the college were been overworked yet their welfare had been thrown to the dust.
Comrade Sa’ad explained that the unions initially embarked on a warning strike in 2016 .
He said , “ The strike began today based on some unattended
agitations of the union. By tradition , the College management has been
recalcitrant to the agitations of our members.
“The management finds it difficult to honour the demands of the Academic Staff of the College.
” Let me inform you that our Provost is using intimidation and even
blackmail to silence every one. He succeeded in silencing the entire
management team, however we resisted all forms of techniques employed by
the provost. The Congress is witnessing the collapse of the college
before our very eyes.
“During the Congress meeting I pointed out to all COEASU members that
“the limits of tyrants are prescribed by those whom they oppress. ”
“Therefore, we ask the union member to take their destiny in their
hands and to blow their own trumpet so that they could be heard,
otherwise nobody will blow it for them, and their refusal to blow it
will be tantamount to suffering in silence.”
A vote of no confidence letter written to the Education Minister,
Adamu Adamu by the Union, dated 27th March, 2017 reads: “COEASU Congress
meeting held today Monday, 27th March 2017, the COEASU Congress FCE
(T), Potiskum has mandated the COEASU Executives to write and inform you
that:”
“Today’s Congress meeting emanated from another emergency COEASU
Congress meeting held on Thursday 23rd March, 2017 in which COEASU wrote
a letter to your office”.
” A motion was moved by a Congress Member to pass a vote of no
confidence on the leadership of the College Provost and it was seconded
by two Congress Members and there was no counter motion. Attached with
this letter are attendance sheets for the meeting.
“The contending issues listed in this letter were the same lingering
issues that bedevilled the College and there were three mediations which
took place at the instant of the Executive Secretary NCCE between the
COEASU Executives and the College Management yet all the agreement
reached as a result of the three mediations were not respected by the
College Management.”
The Provost of the college, Madu Muhammad declined to comment more on
the matter. He said, ” For now, I think I should not talk, let’s wait
and see.
