Kwara Polytechnics, Colleges Of Education Opt Out Of Strike

The ongoing national strike embarked upon by the polytechnics and colleges of education in Nigeria seems not to be having effect in Kwara State as the state polytechnic refused to join the strike while the college of education which formerly joined has resumed lectures.

The Chairman of the Union of the College of Education in Ilorin, Sanni Ahmed, noted that they suspended the strike based on the promise of the government to meet their demands, but threatened that the strike would resume if their demands were not met soon.

Until two weeks ago when the strike was suspended by the entire staff of the College of Education, Ilorin, the gate of the institution was under lock and key, as the union leaders locked and barricaded the gate of the college preventing students and staff from gaining access.

The protest and strike was in response to the government’s failure to meet the demand of the national body for improved welfare for members and decayed infrastructure across the colleges in the country.

However, after staying off duties for weeks and with the intervention of stakeholders in the state, the Union suspended its strike with the hope that the government will meet its demands, having given the government three weeks grace.

The state owned polytechnic, on its part, has not joined any national or internal strike in the past six years and this could be attributed to non-existence of a union or body to advocate their causes.

The last union leaders were reportedly sacked or victimised out of their jobs while fighting for the cause of members and this was said to be responsible for staff’s fear of unionising.