By Daniel Dafe
The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the non-teaching staff unions, Delta State University, Abraka, will tomorrow commence a 6-day warning strike.
The Joint Action Committee is made up of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).
The decision to embark on a strike comes after a 7-day ultimatum by JAC to the management of the university to address several issues bordering on the welfare of the members of these unions or face a total and indefinite industrial action.
Members of the unions all dressed in red today converged at the Science Auditorium, Site II of the university campus for a congress that was well attended by the said members of the unions.
In a press statement signed by the SSANU Chairman, Comrade Monday Izu; NATT Chairman, Comrade Ahatty Godwin and NASU Chairman, Comrade Lucky Oritsedere, the JAC “noted with painful disappointment that management has not reciprocated the uncommon understanding shown by the non-teaching staff and their labour unions over the persistent non-resolutions of their demands.
The demands made to the management are that the short fall of 2014 and 2015 promotion arrears (40 percent) be paid; that the 2016 staff promotion be implemented; that the arrears that have accrued from 2016 staff promotion be paid.
Others are that the arrears of incremental steps for October 2016 and 2017 be paid and that the secondary school teachers be de-stagnated unconditionally as approved by the Executive Governor of Delta State.
According to the unions, “JAC of SSANU, NAAT and NASU upon a critical analysis of Management’s insensitivity to the germane demands unanimously decided to embark on a 6-day comprehensive warning strike with effect from Thursday 7th February, 2019.”
JAC urged the management to within the 6-day period attend to all their demands, saying that this, if not done would result to a total indefinite strike.
When contacted, the university Public Relations Officer, PRO, Freeborn Aganbi, denied knowledge of any letter from the unions to the management and promised to brief us when he gets a detailed knowledge on the matter.
