The Vanguard Newspaper has reported a significant development that could disrupt academic and administrative activities in Nigeria’s 110 Federal Government Colleges (FGCs), popularly known as Unity Schools. The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), under the aegis of organized labour, has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Education, threatening a nationwide strike over what it described as a persistent disregard for workers’ welfare and unresolved grievances.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its Secretary-General, Joshua Apebo, ASCSN expressed dismay at the Federal Ministry of Education’s failure to address critical welfare issues affecting staff members for over two years. According to the union, repeated efforts since 2023 to engage the ministry in dialogue have been met with silence, fueling frustration and unrest among its members.
Key Demands and Grievances
The union outlined several demands, warning that failure to meet these within the stipulated timeframe would lead to industrial action. The key issues include:
Disarticulation of Junior Secondary Schools: A call to separate junior secondary schools from senior secondary schools to create additional vacancies at the directorate level.
Outstanding Allowances: Payment of promotion arrears, salary elongation arrears, and transport allowances for Federal Education Quality Assurance Service (FEQAS) staff.
Health Insurance Concerns: A reduction in exorbitant medical fees charged by the Health Management Organization (HMO) under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
Displacement Compensation: Payment of allowances to Education Officers displaced from Unity Schools in the North-East due to insecurity.
PTA Teacher Regularization: The formalization of Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers’ appointments.
Scholarship Opportunities: Implementation of a policy initiated by former President Muhammadu Buhari, granting scholarships to children of Education Officers in the schools where their parents teach.
Inclusive Decision-Making: Enforcing the White Paper recommendation for ASCSN members to be part of School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) to ensure their involvement in key decisions affecting the schools.
Quarterly Union Meetings: Resumption of quarterly dialogue sessions between the Federal Ministry of Education and ASCSN to address welfare issues and promote industrial harmony.
Labour’s Ultimatum and Frustration
In the ultimatum letter dated January 23, 2025, the union accused the Federal Ministry of Education of treating their concerns with “contempt and indifference.” According to the statement, the absence of meaningful dialogue has exacerbated tensions and heightened the risk of a full-blown industrial crisis.
“The national leadership of the Association can no longer contain the restiveness of its members in Unity Colleges and FEQAS,” the statement read. “No further notice will be required after the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum issued on January 23, 2025, before trade union actions commence nationwide.”
Call for Dialogue
ASCSN urged all stakeholders, including parents, education advocates, and government officials, to prevail on the Federal Ministry of Education to prioritize dialogue and avert the looming crisis. “Waiting for the industrial actions to start only to plead with the union to sheath its swords is a reactive approach that has failed in the past,” the union emphasized.
The impending strike has raised concerns about the continuity of academic activities in Unity Schools, which serve as a model of national unity and educational excellence. With the ultimatum clock ticking, the ball is now in the Federal Ministry of Education’s court to act swiftly and decisively.
The question remains: will the ministry rise to the occasion and address the grievances of its workforce, or will the country witness yet another disruption in its already strained education sector? As the deadline approaches, all eyes are on the government to prevent this potential crisis from spiraling out of control.
PIONEER NEWS 