Unity Schools’ Teachers Suspend Strike, Resume Monday

Unity Schools to resume from month-long strike on Monday as teachers suspend strike. ASCSN directed its members, who are teachers at the 104 Federal Government Colleges and workers at the Federal Ministry of Education, to go back to work.

The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) announced the suspension of its about three-week-old strike following a deal struck with the Federal Government on the payment of N1.8 billion arrears of salaries and allowances.

The union has therefore, directed its members, who are teachers at the 104 Federal Government Colleges and workers at the Federal Ministry of Education, to go back to work.

This was contained in a statement jointly signed by Dr Clement Illoh, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Bello Umar, the Director, Human Resources in the ministry and Mr Alade Lawal, ASCSN Secretary General, on Friday in Abuja.

The suspension, according to the statement obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), is sequel to an agreement reached at a stakeholders’ meeting held on Oct. 15.

It said the meeting which was chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, agreed on terms of payment of the contentious arrears.

“The payment of first batch of 2007 to 2010 promotion arrears has commenced with the sum of N527, 643,444 received by the ministry from the Budget Office.

“The sum of N1.7 billion still stands as arrears of promotion and other allowances yet unpaid to affected members of staff of the ministry,’’ the statement said.

On the payment of the outstanding arrears, the statement said it was agreed that the payment of the first batch of 2007 to 2010 promotion arrears would be completed on Oct. 17.

It said a task force drawn from all the stakeholders will link up with the budget office to pursue the release of the balance of N1.7 billion before the end of the year.

It added:“The outstanding sum of N1.7 billion which covers the balance of 2007 to 2010 promotion arrears, the supplementary promotion arrears for 2011 and promotion arrears for 2012.

“Outstanding salaries for new employees and re-instatement allowance will be paid immediately the sum is released to the Federal Ministry of Education by the budget office.

“The sum of N25 million will be set aside by the Ministry monthly (with effect from Sept. 2014) to offset other allowances owed members of staff.

“These allowances include first 28 days in lieu of hotel accommodation, duty tour allowance, 2010 mandatory training allowance, burial expenses allowance, FTC course allowance, repatriation allowance, among others.’’

It said no staff of the ministry, the inspectorate offices, and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges will be victimised for taking part in the strike.

NAN reports that ASCSN had on Sept. 22 called out its members on strike over outstanding salary arrears and allowances. (NAN)