As the strike embarked upon by the Joint Research and Allied Institutions Sector Unions (JORAISU) enters the third day, the union maintains that they will not resume work unless the federal government implements its January 2011 agreement with the Union.
JORAISU claims the federal government has remained insensitive to its demands and forced the union to embark on an indefinite strike.
The Chairman of the Union, Comrade Akin Ogunbosoye while briefing journalists at the Forestry Research institute of Nigeria (FRIN) in Ibadan said the federal government isolated workers of Research and Allied Institutions with the refusal to pay the one year arrears of salary difference between the old salary scale and the newly negotiated scale of 53.7% increment.
JORAISU further declared that it wants the immediate withdrawal of the circular on non-skipping of grades, establishment of National Research Commission and the termination of second term appointment given to Professor Solomon Badejo as the head of FRIN among other demands.
In a letter jointly signed by representatives of NASU, SSAUTHRAI and ASURI, the unions made nine major demands which includes the immediate payment of one year arrears of 53.7 per cent difference between the old and new salary scales.
They also demanded for the conclusion of the review of conditions of service, implementation of 65 and 70yrs retirement age for non-academic and academic staff respectively.
According to JORAISU, series of meetings have been deadlocked on resolving critical issues contained in their demand.
A meeting has however been scheduled for Friday by federal government for discussions on JORAISU’s demands.
