The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) under the federal ministry of education and ministry representatives have met to resolve some persistent trade issues with the aim of avoiding industrial action threatened by workers.
At the meeting, which was held at the ministry on Wednesday, the union, however, insisted that a trade dispute that had been declared over the implementation of the new retirement age without conditions should be allowed to play out.
These resolutions were contained in a memorandum of understanding issued by the union leadership and ministry representatives.
The ministry’s director of human resources and supervisory officer in the absence of a substantive permanent secretary, David Gende, and a deputy director and resident officer of the labor office, Okafor Ifeyinwa, signed the resolutions on behalf of the government while the general secretary of ASCSN, Lawal Bashir, signed on behalf of the workers’ union.
Lawsuits
Contentious issues between the union and the ministry include unpaid promotions and back wages; non-payment of the first 28 days allowance in lieu of hotel accommodation; no capture of recruited officers since 2018; refusal to sign and implement the agreement reached on the management and ownership of staff infant and primary schools (SNAP); and refusal to implement without any preconditions, the directive of the President, Muhammadu Buhari, on the extension of the retirement age or year of service of education officials in the schools of the federal unit (FUC).
resolutions
The ministry has pledged to pay all workers’ outstanding wage arrears and promotions for 2018 and 2019 on or before April 30.
He also said that at least 919 newly hired staff officers who have already been captured and are on the payroll will receive their December and January salaries next week, while those not yet captured will receive theirs in February.
The ministry said it has set aside N10 million for the payment of the first 28 days’ allowance to deserving staff from January 2022, adding that the sum will be “progressively reviewed as the situation improves.”
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“Efforts will be made to prioritize displaced staff in the Northeast in paying for their first 28 days and management will contact principals of affected schools for any further support,” the MoU noted.
The ministry added that a committee will be established to examine the prepared policy guidelines and memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the establishment and operation of the nursery and primary schools for staff and submit the documents for action within four weeks. .
background
On January 6, after its annual general meeting (AGM) with unit presidents, zonal coordinators, and national executive officers, ASCSN issued an ultimatum of 14 days before a full strike would be declared if there was no action. positive from the government.
Previously, the union had given a 21-day ultimatum, which expired on January 6, for their demands to be addressed.