Ministry, ASCSN meet over strike in unity schools

THE Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity has stepped into the strike called by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), which has paralysed the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspectorate Departments, and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges throughout the country since Monday September 22, 2014.

In a statement issued at the weekend and signed by the ASCSN Secretary-General, Alade Bashir Lawal, the union stated that at the end of the marathon meeting held on Thursday 25th September 2014 and presided over by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, a tripartite committee was set up to liaise with the Budget Office of the Federation with a view to ensuring that the promotion arrears as well as the outstanding salaries and allowances are paid immediately to thousands of staff of the Federal Ministry of Education.

Members of the tripartite committee are drawn from the union, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity and that of the Federal Ministry of Education.

“The Committee is to liaise with the Budget Office of the Federation to ensure that the promotion arrears as well as outstanding salaries and allowances are paid to the workers,” the statement emphasized.

The ASCSN Secretary-General added that the meeting called by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity to resolve the impasse has therefore been adjourned till Thursday October 2, 2014 to review the situation.

“I want to assure the teeming members of our Union at the Headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspectorate Departments and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges that the strike continues until directed otherwise. “

It will be recalled that the ASCSN called out its members in the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Education, Inspectorate Departments and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges on industrial action since Monday 22nd September 2014 to press home their demand for the payment of promotion arrears as well as outstanding salaries and allowances.

The issues in dispute include but are not limited to non-payment of promotion arrears for 2007-2010 and the balance of 2011 promotion arrears; promotion arrears for 2012-2013 and unpaid salaries to some staff for July, August, September, and October 2013; end-of-year incentives; 1st 28 days in lieu of hotel accommodation; 2010 Head of Service organized mandatory training allowance; repatriation allowance; duty tour allowance, etc. The statement added: “It is also important to note that all agreements entered into by the union with the management of the Federal Ministry of Education to settle workers legitimate entitlements had always been breached with impunity by the Ministry over the years”

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