Lecturers in Nigeria’s Colleges of Education vow to continue strike as meeting with FG deadlocks

The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, on Tuesday in Lagos said its discussion with the Federal Government concerning its ongoing strike ended in a deadlock.
The COEASU Chairman, Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka, Olayanju Abolaji, said the strike will continue until the union’s demands were met.
Mr. Abolaji said COEASU’s National Executive Council met with the Federal Government representatives, led by the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, on Thursday, February 20.
He said the union did not reach an agreement with the Federal Government team because government’s offer to the striking workers was not appreciable.
“COEASU is not ready to take empty promises. The Federal Government must be committed to implementing our demands to an appreciable level before we can call off the strike.
“We are ready to call off the strike, even if it is necessary today, but that is if there is a commitment on the part of the Federal Government,” Mr. Abolaji said.
He said the union will not relent in its struggle to improve the standard of the Colleges of Education.
Mr. Abolaji said government is yet to give the cash backing needed to cater for the needs of the Colleges of Education as reported to it by the Needs Assessment Committee.
“The Needs Assessment Committee set up by the Federal Government has visited the colleges, collated their needs and sent the cost implication to the government.
“But we are yet to receive the cash backing to that effect,” he said.
COEASU had on December 31, 2013 declared an indefinite nationwide strike to press home demands for better funding.
It had complained about the poor state of infrastructure in the colleges, as well as poor funding.
The union also rejected the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System, IPPIS, already operational in the Federal Civil Service and the non-implementation of the 2010 Federal
Government-COEASU agreement.