By Akpos Oghenetega,
The Joint Action Committee of Labour Unions in Delta State-owned tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, has announced plans to embark on a warning strike if their demand for the implementation of the 2023 reviewed Salary Structure is not met by Sunday, August 18, 2024.
In a letter issuing a seven-day ultimatum to the management of various tertiary institutions across the state, made available to Advocate.ng, the unions expressed their frustration over the Delta State Government's failure to implement the 2023 reviewed Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS).
The unions involved in the planned strike include the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) at Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka and the University of Delta (UNIDEL), Agbor; the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) at DELSU; the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) at Mosogar; the Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education (SSUCOEN) at Warri and Mosogar; and the Non-Academic Staff Union and Associated Institutions (NASU) at DELSU, UNIDEL, Mosogar, Ogwashi-Uku, Burutu, and Otefe-Oghara. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) at Ogwashi-Uku and Burutu is also participating.
The unions, represented by key leaders such as Comrades Izu Monday (SSANU-DELSU), Igbunu Richard (COEASU, Mosogar), Ayewumi Andrew (NASU, DSPG), and others, issued a second ultimatum in a letter dated August 7, 2024, to the Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Johnbull Tonukari. They called on the Commissioner to direct the management of the state's tertiary institutions to implement and pay the arrears of the revised salary structure.
The unions highlighted that the impending industrial action is a result of the failure of the institutions to implement the revised Consolidated Salary Structure despite a 21-day ultimatum and repeated reminders dating back to November 2023.
