By Umar Bayo Abdulwahab
Ilorin
Former governor of Kwara state, Snator Bukola Saraki, has waded into the face- off between the Academic Staff Union of the state’s-owned Colleges of Education (COEASU) and the state government over the union six week strike.
The state government had last week threatened to sack the striking workers after a meeting led by the Special Assistant to the governor on Labour, Comrade Bisi Fakayode, with the leadership of the union ended in deadlock.
The government had said it would open a register in each of the concerned schools on Monday (yesterday), warning that anyone who failed to resume should considered him or herself sacked.
The union is demanding, amongst other things, improved infrastructure in the state Colleges of Education and a shift in retirement age for its members from 60 to 65 years.
The union is also agitating for improved welfare package comparable to what is obtainable at Kwara State Polytechnic and Colleges of Education in other parts of the country.
Following the face-off, Saraki who represents Kwara central senatorial district and chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Tourism, reportedly held a peace talk with the striking workers after which they agreed to suspend the strike.
Chairman of the union, Comrade Amuda Kannike Abdulkareem, said the decision to call off the strike was reached during the congress held at the institution, which lasted over two hours.
He said: “I wish to inform you that we have suspended the six weeks old strike on the heels of the peace talk recently held with Senator Saraki.
“We unanimously decided to honour the former governor, who is a high ranking authority in the state and we believe by doing so, our demands would be met soon.”
Similarly, the Chairman of COEASU, College of Education Ilorin chapter, Comrade Sanni Shehu Ahmed, said the union had also decided to suspend the industrial action in honour of Saraki after a peace talk held with the leadership of the union.
“As we speak, the state government is yet to meet our demands but there is another angle to the issue following the peace talk we held on Friday with Senator Bukola Saraki,” he said.