LECTURERS in Plateau State-owned tertiary institutions may embark on an indefinite strike tomorrow over government's determination to implement "no-work-no-pay" policy, which, the lecturers say, is uncalled for. This comes as the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) plans to commence similar action due to government's failure to resolve contentious issues affecting its members.
It would be recalled that the state chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) on October 28, 2010, went on an eight-month strike over salary increment and tax-related issues. The action only ended in June this year.
But barely one month after the suspension of the strike, the lecturers again decided to down tool on claims of March salaries, which were skipped due to errors on payment vouchers by the institutions. It took the intervention of elders in the state in September this year before the strike could be called off.
Concerned by the planned industrial action tomorrow, the National President of the National Association of Plateau State Students (NAPSS), Dung Daweng Pam called a press conference yesterday to condemn the planned action by the joint unions, saying that their motive was selfish and ill-motivated.
Pam said stakeholder, particularly parents were tired of the manner lecturers toy with the future of the students, who have just renewed their expired house rents, even as registration has almost been completed. Insisting that the lecturers do not have the students' interest at heart, Pam threatened that NAPSS would support any stand that government might wish to take on the matter.
Saying that "enough is enough", the student leader, however, assured that the body would ensure the safety of any lecturer willing to defy the strike action. "We call on all lecturers, who have the students at heart, not to be subjected to the decisions of the leadership of the Joint Unions, as there is freedom of association."
Pam thanked the state government for ensuring that students go back to the classroom in the first place, just as he appealed to government to find lasting solution to the crisis.
NMA chairman in the state, Dr. Victor Chung Pam, who addressed journalists, at the weekend, said all doctors in the state are expected to join the strike tomorrow in solidarity with the doctors in the employ of the state government.
Meanwhile, doctors in the state-owned specialist hospital, general hospitals and the hospital management boards have been on strike over the non-payment of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS).
The Guardian