(http://www.channelstv.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Plateau-strike-300x224.jpg) (http://www.channelstv.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Plateau-strike.jpg)Despite the order by the Plateau state government to striking workers of state owned tertiary institutions to return to their duty posts, the lectures have vowed to continue to remain at home.
Briefing newsmen after the state Executive Council Meeting, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Yiljap Abraham stated that there are no issues between the government and unions to warrant a strike since the unions have not exhausted all avenues to resolve lingering issues.
However, Chairman of Joint Unions of Plateau State Owned Tertiary Institutions, Victor Dawurung, described government decision as unfortunate, ridiculous and outrageous as government is running away from addressing the issues but resorting to the use of blackmail, coercion and intimidation.
The state owned tertiary institutions in Plateau state comprising of Plateau State Polytechnic, College of Health Technology, College of Education, College of Agriculture and College of Arts, Science and Technology with 17 unions making up the joint unions of over 200 have been on strike for the past one month with no solution to the lingering crisis until the state government released the threat to deal with the erring workers if they refused to resume work immediately.
Yiljap, who read the riot act to the striking workers, expressed government's displeasure in the action of the workers to embark on industrial actions without exhausting all available avenues.
In spite of the order by the state government, the joint unions members remain adamant accusing the state government of playing politics and using force to jettison the issues raised by the unions.
This feud is coming on the heels of the struggles to get out of the local government employees industrial action that paralysed all sectors in the local government areas for several months.
Plateau state government is engaged in another imbroglio this time with joint unions of state owned tertiary institutions for non-implementations of some issues bothering on staff welfare as well as infrastructural development in the institutions.
Via: ChannelsTV