Following the recent strike actions of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Trade Unions of tertiary Institutions, ASUU, NASU in the state-owned tertiary Institutions, the Kogi State Government has placed a forthwith proscription on all activities of JAC, and all forms of unionism in a statement signed on Wednesday being 25th October, 2017 by the state governor, Yahaya Bello.
The statement averred that it respects the rights of labour unions in relation to the responsibilities of the owners and proprietors of tertiary academic institutions.
It also reiterate that, it respects the rights of all citizens to responsibly associate and pursue their welfare within the ambit of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the laws of the state, the rights of other citizens and the general norms of a democratic society.
It added that, Labour Unions has made tremendous progress in resolving all issues relating to adequacy and frequency of remuneration for all categories of civil servants in the state.
However, the state government allegely accused the unions in the state-owned tertiary institutions of retarding its efforts to exercising holistic reforms of the civil service.
“The branch of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Trade Unions of Tertiary Institutions Owned by Kogi State in Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has proceeded on yet another strike for alleged non-payment of salaries and emoluments irrespective of clear evidence of Government’s good faith and efforts contradicting JAC’s position.
“Evidence of massive embezzlement of the Kogi State Polytechnic’s earnings in excess of N157m committed under JAC’s nose and government’s efforts to bring the fraudsters to justice have not persuaded JAC to work with government to resolve all extant issues bedevilling the institution’s cash flow,” the statement specified.
The government, however, claimed that incessant strike actions by the unions has grounded academic activities to a halt and thrown students out of their classrooms into uncertainties.
Owing to the proscription signed by Yahaya Bello, the state government condemned the ongoing strike actions in Kogi State Polytechnic as illegal and unacceptable.
Yahaya Bello said that the proscription is to be strictly adhered to with immediacy and also directed for replacement of any staff who refuses to resume duty starting from today.
