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Tag: Indefinite Strike

  • UCH resident doctors set for indefinite strike

    UCH resident doctors set for indefinite strike

    The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan Chapter, says it will embark on an indefinite strike, if power is not restored to the residential areas of the hospital.

    This is contained in a communiqué from its emergency meeting held on Feb. 14, which was made available to newsmen on Monday in Ibadan.

    Recall that the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), reconnected the UCH on Feb. 12, after more than 100 days of power outage.

    According to the communiqué signed by the chapter’s President, Dr Gboyega Ajibola, and General Secretary, Dr Uthman Adedeji, the residential areas were not reconnected.

    The duo noted that this was in spite of the residential areas having prepaid meters with units amounting to hundreds of thousands of naira.

    They added that after exploring all available options to engage with the UCH management and address the issue, an emergency congress was convened.

    They said the congress demanded that all residential areas within the hospital, including East Gate Road, as well as Circular Road surrounding the College of Medicine, should have their power restored not later than 4p.m., on Monday.

    “Failure to restore the areas requested will result in the congress of the chapter initiating a total and indefinite strike.

    “The congress supports accelerating the unbundling process of Electrical power blocs in the hospital to promote harmony.

    “But the leadership of ARD must be included in all delegations for critical discussions, meetings or summons by higher authorities concerning power supply in UCH.

    “We resolved that a strongly worded letter outlining the true narrative regarding power situation, be sent to the Chief Medical Director (CMD), with relevant stakeholders informed,” they said.

    The duo also urged the CMD, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo to process the payment of the 75 per cent accoutrement allowance for 2024 without delay.

    They further urged the management to prioritise the welfare of resident doctors, reflecting the goodwill of congress members demonstrated over the past 100 days.

    “We call for sustained modality of ‘call food’ provision to resident doctors on call,” they added.

  • Telecommunications staff set to embark on indefinite strike April 4

    Telecommunications staff set to embark on indefinite strike April 4

    The Private Telecommunications and Communications Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PTECSSAN has finalized plans to go on an indefinite strike on April 4.

    The Union’s General Secretary, Okonu Abdullahi made this known via a statement signed and released  by him on Tuesday.

    He stated that the union resolved to go on strike because of the alleged unresolved issues between the union and sub-contractors linked with Huawei Technologies Nigeria Ltd.

    According to him, efforts by the union and the Ministry of Labour and Employment to resolve its concerns were futile as the companies failed to make themselves available for conciliatory meetings.

    “It is in the light of this that the leadership of the union directed its members to begin an indefinite strike effective from April 4.

    “We implore Nigerians to bear with us during the period of the strike and the discomfort it may bring to them,” he said.

    Continuing, Abdullahi  said the issues that will need urgent implementation include immediate recognition of the fundamental rights of the employees to freely associate with the union.

    He added that other issues are the immediate remittance of membership dues into the union’s account and the regularization of the employment of union members on the Huawei projects.

    “Also important is the involvement of the union in the negotiation of the collective bargaining agreement for the benefit of union members, among others,” he said.

  • Doctors to embark on indefinite strike as 21-day ultimatum to govt expires

    Doctors to embark on indefinite strike as 21-day ultimatum to govt expires

    The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Kogi State Specialist Hospital (KSSH), Lokoja, has called the attention of the State Government to the expiration of the 21 days ultimatum given to it to meet its demands.

    The association had on Aug. 9, issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Kogi Government to meet its demands or be ready for an indefinite strike action, after suspending its two-day industrial action directed by the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD).

    The ultimatum was to give room for dialogue and engagement with the state government.

    The notification was given in a statement jointly signed by the ARD KSSH’s President, Dr Ameh Friday; and Secretary General, Dr Peter Samuel, and made available to journalists on Saturday in Lokoja.

    “The ARD KSSH, wishes to state that today, makes it 21 days since its last communique and one month since it suspended its industrial action as directed by the National Body – NARD – for government to look into the some of its pressing demands as listed below.

    “Having examined the inertia that has greeted our requests also keeping in view of our previous failure to join the national directive to suspend service delivery because of our commitment to the client and State Government which unfortunately has never been appreciated.

    “We will like to remind government of our modest demands once more.

    “Upward review of CONMESS 2014 to CONMESS 2023, and approval of Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023).

    “Review of hazard allowance as released by the National Salary, Income and Wages Commission, 22nd December, 2021, and implementation and cash backing of promotion as well as the statutory Annual Increments with payment of arrears of both annual increments and promotion,” it said.

    “The association stressed that the statement would serve as a reminder of the association’s initial communique.

    “The association emphasised that the moral and psychic of its members in the Kogi State Specialist Hospital is at an all time low with respect to their concerns, unfortunately, the Hospital working environment, coupled with the unpalatable economic realities have further worsened the already sour situation.

    “The ARD will convoke a Congress meeting in seven days from now to have an appraisal of the progress made so far and take a decision on all its demands,” the association said.

  • BREAKING: Doctors embark on indefinite strike over colleague’s abduction

    BREAKING: Doctors embark on indefinite strike over colleague’s abduction

    Doctors in Cross River on Sunday embarked on a total and indefinite strike in solidarity with one of their members abducted on Thursday from her residence in Calabar.

    This is contained in a communique signed by Dr. Felix Archibong, Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association, (NMA), Cross River branch, after an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) on Sunday in Calabar.

    It would be recalled that on Thursday  July 13, Dr. Ekanem Ephraim, a medical practitioner with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), was kidnapped from her residence by armed men who pretended to be patients at about 7.30 p.m.

    The doctors who noted that despite all there efforts in ensuring the release of their colleague, Ephraim has remained in captivity.

    The association thereafter resolved to do the following.

    “To embark on a total and indefinite withdrawal of medical services effective immediately in solidarity with our member still in the hands of her abductors.

    “This withdrawal of medical service will involve all hospitals in the state both federal, state, private and Mission.

    “The State government should activate all necessary instruments at its disposal to ensure the timely and unconditional release of our member in the hands of her abductors.”

    They added that NMA in Cross River was not oblivious of the hardship its withdrawal of  services would have on the citizens but appealed to the relevant security agencies to ensure a timely release of its abducted member.

    According to reports, this was not the first time the association would embark on a strike on account of the abduction of its member in Cross River.

  • Resident doctors set to embark on indefinite strike

    Resident doctors set to embark on indefinite strike

    Nigerian doctors  operating under the auspices  of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) will meet on Wednesday to decide whether to embark on an indefinite strike or not.

    The Doctors claim that the Federal Government has reneged on its promises.

    The demands includes, improved welfare for health workers, including upward review of salaries, payment of new hazard allowance, payment of salary arrears in some States and payment of the newly-reviewed Medical Residency Training Fund among others.

    Recall that the resident doctors had initially given the Federal Government  a two-week ultimatum  to implement its agreements or risk an indefinite strike.

    On August 21, 2022, the association extended the ultimatum by another two weeks which elapsed on September 5, 2022.

    However, after its extraordinary National Executive Council (NEC) meeting over the weekend in Plateau State, members of the association expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of progress with regards to their demands.

    They rescheduled a meeting for Wednesday to objectively x-ray efforts of the government and take appropriate action, which could either be to begin its indefinite strike or give the government more time to address its sundry issues.

    Addressing pressmen, the President of the NARD, Dr. Godiya Ishaya, noted that the Wednesday meeting will tell if the strike will begin or not.

    “We went on recess to reconvene on Wednesday by 4 pm virtually via zoom. The other demands and the hazard allowance haven’t been paid. In fact, it is one of the reasons why the meeting became held down and we had to move it to Wednesday for us to go on recess and see if we can make progress.

    “The NEC was not happy about the slow pace of progress that had been made, and in all, with the reports I gave them, they were not convinced about it. I have seen significant progress but there were some details I don’t have to be able to persuade the majority or openly defend for them to understand. I had to declare recess for us to reconvene on Wednesday.”

    The Secretary General of the NARD, Dr. Suleiman Abiodun Isma’il, added that the previous meetings on it have been inconclusive.

    “The meeting was inconclusive as we are on recess so as to further douse tensions and possibly have some time to further do a follow-up on the progress made so far and dialogue with the FG.” He Said.

  • Police Service Commission begins indefinite strike

    Police Service Commission begins indefinite strike

    The Police Service Commission’s Joint Union Congress says that its members will go on indefinite strike beginning Monday.

    The Union stated in a notice to the Commission’s management that they are going on strike due to a breach in their agreement.

    Mr Adoyi Adoyi, Chairman of the Joint Service Union, Police Service Commission chapter, told journalists that the strike is being called due to a disagreement between the Commission’s workers, the Chairman of PCS, Mr Musiliu Smith, and the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, over who should be responsible for the recruitment, promotion, and appointment of constables and officers.

    Mr Adoyi accused the Commission and the Police, of overruling the constitutional duty of the PSC.

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    “The duties of the PSC are spelt out in the constitution, but the Police authority has disregarded all of that, and has taken over the duties of the commission. He appoints and promotes at will as opposed to what is stated in the constitution’’, he said.

    According to Adoyi, the appointment, promotion, and recruitment of police officers and constables are the prerogative of the Police Service Commission.

  • Ogun workers embark on indefinite strike over unpaid benefits

    Civil servants in Ogun state have been directed  by  organised labour to immediately embark on an indefinite action starting from Tuesday June 28, 2022.

    The leadership of the organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), declared the strike while addressing workers at the Arcade ground of the state Secretariat, Okemosan, Abeokuta.

    The workers had initially issued a seven-day-ultimatum to the state Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun on June 7 on issues bothering on the non-remittance of the 21 months workers’ deduction.

    They also hammered on other issues bothering them in the state like contributory pension, review of Ogun Pension law and immediate implementation of consequential adjustments on minimum pension as mandated by the 1999 constitution.

    The workers gathered and sang solidarity songs against the government while berating the governor for failing to honour the agreement contained in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2020.

    Addresing the workers, the Chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Emmanuel Bankole, said the strike had become imperative following several failed attempts to meet the governor over their plight on the issue.

    Bankole who was accompanied by the Chairman of TUC, Mr Akeem Lasisi, and the Chairman of JNC, Mr Isa Olude, directed all the workers to stay away from work.

    According to him, the strike which will take effect from 12 a.m. Tuesday will be a total and indefinite strike, adding that there is no going back until their demands are met by the governor.

    “We are here today to take our destiny in our own hands. The leadership is ready.

    “We must start a new beginning; we must tell them (government) that we are workers and not slaves. The time is now; a stop must be put to this.

    “Our future and the future of the workers of Ogun state is in great jeopardy.

    “Governance is a serious business and whoever that is not ready for it, I think it is time we told such persons to go home.

    “Having given them enough time, but they are too busy to attend to us, maybe if we go home for some time, they will have time to attend to our matter.

    “There is no going back. We have given them a long rope to draw.

    “It is my opinion and my conviction that Ogun state workers are saying that we should embark on a full blown strike.

    “We are embarking on indefinite strike from 12 midnight; let all the workers stay back at home. The implication is that nobody is expected at work tomorrow (June 28).

    “Anyone who reports for duty tomorrow (Tuesday) is a traitor and it has never been well with a traitor,” Bankole declared.

     

  • ASUU ends warning strike on Monday, to commence indefinite strike

    ASUU ends warning strike on Monday, to commence indefinite strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has said it would end its warning strike on Monday, as considerations on indefinite strike commence.

     

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the national leadership of the union would make public its decision on Monday.

     

    In its Tweet on Sunday, the Union made it known that it will end the warning strike tomorrow (Monday).

    See Tweet below:

     

    It was gathered that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the union had earlier given the go-ahead to the national leadership to call out members on indefinite strike if nothing tangible was achieved during the eight weeks of their warning strike.

     

    The union had earlier gone on a month warning strike on February 14 this year, and extended it by another eight weeks which comes to an end on Monday, May 9, 2022.

     

    While ASUU was into the second round of its warning strike, other staff unions in the university system also embarked on strike.

     

    The unions are the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities, SSANU, the National Association of Academic Technologists, NAAT, and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Education and Allied Institutions, NASU.

     

    Though the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, had met with the leadership of SSANU, NAAT, and NASU, nothing concrete came out of the meetings.

     

    He is yet to meet with ASUU leadership, though he announced last weekend that he would meet with them.

     

    According to the National President of ASUU, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, the union had not got an invitation from the government’s team as of the weekend.

     

    “We too heard it in the news what the Minister of Labour said about meeting with us, but as we talk, nobody has reached out to us for any meeting. We don’t know when the meeting will be called. However, I think before going to the press to announce any proposed meeting, what ought to have been done is to inform us. Anyway, we are waiting for the meeting when it is called,” he said.

     

    On what would be the next line of action, Osodeke said the national leadership of the union would decide that.

     

    Speaking on the situation, the National President of the National Parent Teacher Association of Nigeria, NAPTAN, Alhaji Haruna Danjuma, expressed disgust with the continued closure of the universities.

     

    “We cannot continue to waste the time of our children. They are staying much at home than in school now. It is unfortunate that we are yet to get over the issue of the closure of our higher institutions incessantly. That is a minus for the system. How do we expect foreigners to respect our certificates?

     

    “Incidentally, it is not everybody that can afford to send their children abroad to study. We must make our education sector work and put an end to this rot. We plead with the government and the university workers to find a mid-course and resolve this issue and let academic activities resume in these institutions, ” he said.

     

    In a chat with our correspondent, the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Comrade Sunday Asefon, said the association would study the situation and react appropriately.

     

    “We already have a plan of action in place regarding our demands for the reopening of the universities without further delay and we are keeping faith with that. However, if the strike is extended after the eight weeks of warning action, we will also react appropriately too.

     

    “Nigeria students have wasted more than enough time at home doing nothing. With this current situation now, students have wasted time that is enough for them to finish a semester. We are tired of things like this,” he said.

     

    Recall that NANS has said it would not allow any political party to hold its presidential convention in Abuja unless the universities are reopened.

     

    The All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, among other parties have fixed their conventions for Abuja.

     

    ASUU has been on strike since February 14 this year, while non-teaching staff unions have also embarked on industrial action over a month ago.

     

    Students from various tertiary institutions have been on street protests in Ibadan, Benin, Abuja and Lagos calling for an end to the strike and for universities to reopen.

  • NASU, SSANU to embark on indefinite strike, if…

    NASU, SSANU to embark on indefinite strike, if…

    The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) say they will embark on an indefinite strike, if government fails to meet their demands.

    The unions under the aegis of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) stated this through its spokesperson, Mr Prince Adeyemi during a news conference on Wednesday, in Abuja.

    Recall that members of the unions had embarked on two weeks warning strike that expired on midnight of April 10.

    The union’s demands include the inconsistencies in payment with Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System(IPPIS), non-payment of Earned Allowances, non-payment of arrears of National Minimum Wage and it consequential adjustment.

    Others are: poor funding of state universities, delay in renegotiation of the 2009 agreements, non-release of white papers of visitation panels, non- payment of retirement benefits to outcome members, among others.

    JAC had resolved that following the failure of government to invite the leaderships for a meeting, the strike should be extended by another two weeks before an indefinite and total strike is declared.

    Adeyemi said the strike was borne out of the non-responsive nature of the government and its officials to matters affecting the members of the NASU and SSANU and by extension, the entire University System.

    “Arising from the last memorandum and following up on the issues, we have written no less than 10 tetters or reminders to the government to no avail, not even an acknowledgement.

    “It was at the end of all these reminders with no acknowledgement by the government that we were left with no other resort but to embark on a two weeks warning strike.

    “Prior to the strike, due process was duly followed and the notice were issued in line with the extant laws.

    “Shamefully and painfully, there was no attempt by the government to intercept or even invite the unions to a meeting.

    “As of today, the two weeks’ extension is getting to the middle and with no response in sight from government, we may be left with no resort but to embark on an indefinite and total strike, “he said.

    Adeyemi, however gave conditions upon which their industrial action might be suspended.

    He insisted that government should jettison the IPPIS for the University Peculiar Personnel and Payroll System (U3PS) developed by the non-academic unions.

    He also insisted that the N30billion as Earned Allowances,, which is a product of the FGN/NASU and SSANU 2009 Agreements should be paid immediately.

    He said the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) had stated that the criteria for disbursement would be according to the computation from each University and Inter-University Centre, in line with what is outstanding for each staff.

    “Sadly, when the said sum was released, it was evident that rather than adopt the submissions of Universities and Inter-University Centres, the Ministry of Education in releasing N22 Billion, adopted a lopsided sharing formula of 75 per cent for ASUU and 25 per cent for other unions,’’ he said.

  • ASUU to embark on fresh indefinite strike

    ASUU to embark on fresh indefinite strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) says it would soon embark on an indefinite strike to press home their demands one month after it suspended a nine-months-old strike.
    Dr Lazarus Maigoro, Chairman of the University of Jos chapter of the Union, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Jos.
    Recalled that the union suspended a nine-month-old industrial action in December 2021.
    ASUU embarked on an earlier strike over the failure of Federal Government to address all the issues raised in the 2009 agreement it entered with the union.
    Maigoro, who described the federal government as an “unfaithful spouse”, said the union would not relent until the standard of education is uplifted in the country.
    “The government’s pattern of response to issues is that of a serial promise breaker.
    “Like an unfaithful spouse, they are unable to match their words with action which is affecting the education sector negatively.
    “We are tired of their deceit and it is time for us to take action and so we want to inform Nigerians that we are tired of fruitless meetings with the Minister of Labour, Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Chief of Staff to the President, among others.
    “If they ever want us to listen to them, they should first of all act on the promises they have already made,” he said.
    The chairman wondered why government had continued to defend the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS), a system, he said, has been thrashed by the office of the Auditor-General of the Federation.
    Maigoro maintained that the demands of the union are not personal, but a conscious effort aimed at uplifting the standard of university education in the country.
    He added that over the years, the union had engaged government over all the issues and it promised immediate implementation, but nothing has been done till date.
    “In the light of this, we want Nigerians to know that we are no longer interested in the promises of an unfaithful philandering spouse.
    “In the mean time, we are resolved to proceed on an indefinite and comprehensive strike until fidelity returns to our relationship with the government and our demands are met; We are tired of going the back and forth.
    “This Brownian motion must stop! We are determined to end the dubious pronouncements by government claiming commitment to sound university education and fidelity to collective agreement.
    “Trust has been destroyed by government. It is up to them to retrieve it to avert any strike. On our part, we are ready for any action and our readiness is now,” he said.
    Maigoro said that the union appreciates the interest demonstrated by the Nigerian Inter-religion Council (NIREC) with a view to resolving the current impasse, but regretted that it would not yield any positive result.
    He appealed to students, parents and Nigerians to understand and support the union in its bid to salvage the education system from total collapse.