Ebonyi College of Education joins COEASU nationwide strike

Lecturers in Ebonyi College of Education (EBSCOI), Ikwo Thursday joined the nationwide strike declared by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).
The Chairman of COEASU (EBSCOI chapter), Mr Osmond Oboke, disclosed this at a news briefing on Thursday in Abakaliki.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the leadership of the union on June 14 declared an inustrial dispute to press home its demand for improved conditions of service.

According to Oboke, a total of 15 staff members of the college have died as a result of poor conditions of service in the college.
He said that seven of the 15 were members of the academic staff, while eight were non-academic staff members.
Oboke further said that some lecturers in the college had left for greener pastures because of the conditions of service we’re getting worse in the college.

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He expressed concern that some lecturers had become bedridden with different ailments, including stroke.
He regretted that poor funding for teacher education was affecting the productivity and quality of graduates from teacher training colleges in Nigeria.
“According to research, between 2015 and 2021, the staff population on different types of loans for recurrent spending has risen to 100 per cent.

“The result of the same research, however, reveals that from 2004 to 2006 and from 2007 to 2014, the number of staff on consumer loans was zero per cent and 20 per cent respectively.
“The statistics reveal a startling reality of the deteriorating conditions of service in the college,” Oboke said.

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The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that COEASU’s national leadership resolved to go on strike after its meeting at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State, on June 10.

The decision was a result of the union’s assessment of the level of the Federal Government’s response to its requests.
The industrial action came after the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum issued to the government on the lingering issues of industrial concerns. (NAN)