Oyo government signs pact with workers, as EACOED union shelve strike, to resume Tuesday [PHOTOS]
Workers at the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education (EACOED), Oyo and representatives of the Oyo state government, Sunday night signed a communique that the workers should suspend the ongoing strike and return to classrooms tomorrow (Tuesday), DAILY POST reports.
The communique was signed after the meeting held at the conference room of Ministry of Education in Ibadan, the state capital which was attended by the management of the institution, students’ representatives, representatives of various unions in the institution and Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Education, Dr. Bisi Akin-Alabi.
Other stakeholders at the meeting included COEASU Chairman, Mr. Segun Oyewumi, Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Ronke Fatoki, NASU Chairman Alhaji Fatai, SSUCOEN Chairman, Mr Adeniji and the Provost of the institution, Dr Rasak Adefabi.
DAILY POST gathered that the workers had gone on strike due to non-payment of salaries.
But, Akin-Alabi who represented the state government at the meeting in a statement sent to DAILY POST Monday morning confirmed that the three unions in the institution had agreed to shelve the strike and return to work on Tuesday.
She said, “Images taken at one of our education stakeholders’ meetings that lasted till 10 pm last night. I was locked in deliberations with protesting academic staff unions, students union reps and management of one of our tertiary institutions yesterday for several hours and even continued in stark darkness as the transformer of the secretariat had a fault.
“At the meeting of the above stakeholders held by the state government with the representatives of governing council, college management, staff unions, and students representatives on Sunday, November 4th 2018, the following agreements were reached.
“That the COEASU of the college should tender a formal unreserved apology to the Governing Council and the college management on the deplorable incident of Thursday, November 1, 2018. This was verbally done at the meeting held.today Sunday 4th of Nov from 4pm till 9pm at Conference Room of the Ministry of Educating by the Chairman of COEASU Mr Segun Oyewumi. As such all proposed criminal charges will be dropped and no staff shall be victimised or disciplined as a result of the strike action.
“That COEASU will suspend the strike action on Tue. November 6, 2018 following which payment of October 2018 will be made to its members on the same day.
“That COEASU Emmanuel Alayande College of Education Chapter should be more civil in their approach to agitation of their grievances in the future. That the rumour making the rounds on sacking a number of staff were dispelled.
“That academic activities will resume fully in the college on Tuesday, November 6, 2018 while SSUCOEN & NASU were commended for prompt suspension of their strike action. As a follow up to this that the SA on education will be in the college on Wednesday, November 7, 2018 to appraise the situation.
“That a meeting between the 3 unions, management and council be convened on wed. 7th of Nov 2018. This meeting would have govt representatives as observers. The stakeholders thanked the convener of the peace meeting who is the Special Adviser on Education to the gov of Oyo State Dr Bisi Akin-Alabi.
“The meeting had in attendance Moronkola Teslim the NANS Chairman Oyo State Axis, Afolabi Lawal the Student Union President and members of the Students union government. The Acting PS Min. Of Education Mrs. Ronke Fatoki, Mr Adeosun the Director of Higher Education were also present.
“The chairman COEASU Mr Segun Oyewumi ; The NASU Chairman Alh. Fatai, the SSUCOEN Chairman Mr Adeniji as well as the Provost Dr. Rasak Adefabi, the Bursar and the Registrar were also in attendance as well as 2 representatives of The Governing Council members. All members signed the communique and agreed for it to be released to the press”.
