ASCSN suspends two-month strike in unity colleges

•To resume if govt defaults in paying salary arrears
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has suspended its over two-month strike in some Federal Government Colleges (FGC).

A statement by the association’s Secretary-General, Alade Bashir Lawal, a copy of which was obtained by The Guardian, said the strike was suspended after the union’s meeting with zonal co-coordinators and unit chairmen in the affected colleges.

He said the suspension became necessary, following appeals by stakeholders, who included parents, guardians and other well-meaning Nigerians.

Teachers in the affected schools, also called unity colleges, had embarked on the strike over disparity in their salaries and allowances.

The affected federal colleges are located in Nise in Anambra State, Shagamu, Ogun State, Ilorin, Kwara State, Ikirun, Osun State, Ilesa in Osun State.

Others are Doma in Nasarawa State, Otukpo, Benue State, Warri, Delta State, Omu-Aran, Kwara State and Rubochi in Abuja.

The statement reads: “The meeting reviewed the on-going strike in some federal unity colleges where salaries were skipped and not paid for some specific months. It noted the mounting appeals by parents, guardians and other well-meaning Nigerians to suspend the action in the interest of the students and the system.

“Consequently the meeting resolved to suspend the strike for 30 days to enable the government to pay the outstanding salaries. Failure to do so would lead to a full-blown strike in all the 104 federal unity colleges in the country.”

The Chairman, Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of‎ one of the colleges, Mr. Gbenga Oyesola, commended the suspension and urged the Federal Government to respect the collective agreement entered with the union to forestall a re-occurrence of the strike.