By Augustine Okezie
Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has said that it would delay calling off the 11-month old industrial action it jointly embarked on with Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) until certain grey areas regarding their demand for improved conditions of services were urgently addressed by government.
President of the association, Dr Emmanuel Asage, made the declaration in Abuja yesterday, during the inauguration of a technical committee on the Dual mode of award of degrees by colleges of education, performed by the supervising Minister of Education, Barrister Nyesom Wike.
He said: “It is not about ego game, there is no victor, no vanquished in this matter. We are happy at the inauguration of the committee, but we look forward on concluding negotiations on our outstanding salaries, guarantees that there will be no victimisation of those who participated on the strike, and the signing of a final agreement before we can call off the strike.”
Earlier, in his address, Wike said the inauguration of the committee should be seen as government’s effort in addressing a key demand by COEASU.
He appealed to the chairman of the committee and permanent secretary in the ministry, Dr Mac-John Nwaobiala, to ensure that the assignment was concluded in four weeks time “as there will be no extension.”
“Let me plead with you, time is of essence in this assignment and 4 weeks should be enough. This exercise is targeting at appeasing COEASU and dousing tensions, our children have suffered enough. I am calling upon the union to call off the strike in the interest of the nation, the issue at stake is not personal but that of the nation, enough is enough of these strikes.”
The permanent secretary assured the minister, on behalf of his members, that the committee would live above board and justify their appointments.
