The Abia State College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu, (ASCETA) has lamented the death of two staff members due to lack of funds for proper medical attention as COEASU strike lingers.

The late staff members are Late Mrs. Ezeagula Chinyere Ndubuisi of School Education and Late Mr. Linus Onwumere ,Student Affairs Officer.

PHOTO: Late Mrs. Ezeagula Chinyere Ndubuisi. ( School of Education, ASCETA)
PHOTO: Late Mr. Linus Onwumere (Student Affairs Officer, ASCETA).

In a statement signed by Comrade Kevin O. Egesi, Chairman, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) ASCETA Chapter, attributes the death of their colleagues to non payment of 28 months salary arrears and the ongoing COEASU strike.

ASCETA also laments that the Abia state government still maintains the old salary structure instead of the Consolidated Polytechnic and Colleges of Education Academic Salary Structure(CONPCASS) which other colleges has been implementing since 2011.

The statement also has it that the Abia state government has refused to release and increase the subvention to the college as at when due citing it as the cause of all their problems.

“Are the staff not human? Must we rest in peace before we die? The state government abandoned the college in every angle and don’t care about the staff Whether we live or die. Who did we offered. Is it the living or the ancestors.” The statement read.

ASCETA also blamed the school management by applying inhuman politics to the welfare of their staff members and reduce educational standards.

ASCETA listed the blames as;

*Deduction of staff salary by 10% – 15% and claimed it is governors approved.

  • Non remittance of more than 50 months deducted Unions check off dues to the Union. Backing it up with ” I can’t sponsor my enemy”.
  • Deducting 5% staff salary to cut grass.
  • Non financial implementation of staff promotion since 2008 till date.
  • No Promotion done from 2017 till date. Denying the staff a better future somewhere else if the need arises.
  • No gratuity, no pension for staff, etc.
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“They have vowed to kill the college by force with inhuman policies and to water down educational standard.” The statement added.

ASCETA also gave the reasons why the education national body COEASU is also on strike as;

  1. Non release of N15 billion approved revitalization
    fund recommended for both Federal and State Colleges of Education.

2. Non –implementation of the consequential effect of the implementation of CONTISS 15 on Lower Cadre (a.k.a. Migration) since 2018 amongst others.

The full statement reads;

COGENT REASONS FOR THE COEASU STRIKE ACTION:

1.Non release of N15 billion approved revitalization
fund recommended for both Federal and State Colleges of Education.

2.Non –implementation of the consequential effect of the implementation of CONTISS15 on
Lower Cadre (a.k.a. Migration) since 2018.

3.Poor Funding of Colleges of Education and poor conditions across State-owned Colleges of
Education especially in Ogun, Kwara, Abia, Kogi, Zamfara, Yobe and Edo States.

5.Federal Government’s recalcitrant insistence on IPPIS against more reliable alternative of UTAS.

Press statement from ASCETA Reads;

In a state where our staff are owed salary for 28 months of an out dated salary structure instead of CONPCASS, implemented in other colleges since 2011. What do you expect than people dying like flies due to hunger, starvation and no money for medical upkeep.

Abia state government refusal to release and increase the subvension to the college when due is the curse of all our problem in one hand. Are the staff not human and must we rest in peace before we die. The state government aboundon the college in every angle and don’t care about the staff Whether we live or die. Who did we offered. Is it the living or the ancestors. Please have mercy on us.

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On the other hand, the college management is a case study. They have vowed to kill the college by force with inhuman policies and to water down educational standard.

Some of these policies are;

  • Deduction of staff salary by 10% – 15% and claimed it is governors approved.
  • Non remittance of more than 50 months deducted Unions check off dues to the Union. Backing it up with ” I can’t sponsor my enemy”.
  • Deducting 5% staff salary to cut grass.
  • Non financial inplimentation of staff promotion since 2008 till date.
  • No Promotion done from 2017 till date. Denying the staff a better future somewhere else if the need arises.
  • No gratuity, no pension for staff, etc.

Tetfund buildings are coming up every day. Kudos to the management because they get share or cut. What will you be remembered for when your gone. They don’t care about staff welfare and standards. We lost a young man and a due pregnant woman whom the husband was sacked some years back without paying him “shishi” after been Owed more that 20 months salary. Man inhumanity to man.

Since we know that both the college management and Abia State government dont care for us, our trust is in God Almighty. Whatever we sow is what we will surely reap. We are in deepest pain now, comrades that died in the struggle, may your souls rest in peace.
Aluta continua.

Signed;

Comrade Kevin O. Egesi.
Chairman COEASU
Asceta Chapter.

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