Kwara State College of Education Lecturers Protest Lingering Strike

No fewer than 500 members of the Committee of Union of Tertiary Institutions in Kwara State on Friday peacefully protested at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, the state capital.

The National Chairman, College of Education Academic Staff Union, Mr. Sanni Ahmed, in an interview with journalists said the members were protesting against alleged infrastructural decay in the college and alleged unfair labour and welfare treatments.

Ahmed, who is also Kwara State Chairman, CUTI, said the members who had been on strike since Monday, were also uncomfortable with the Chairman of the Board of the institution, Alhaji Ayinla Yeketi for some alleged administrative and financial misdeeds.

Yeketi said the allegations against him and the board were false, adding that he was repositioning the institution for greater efficiency.

The Special Adviser to the Kwara State Governor on Labour Matters, Mr. Bisi Fakayode, said the government was addressing the demands of the striking workers. He added that he was hopeful that the strike would be called off about Monday.

He stated that the government was harmonizing the workers and the management of the institution so as to move the institution forward and avoid unpleasant academic backlogs for the students.

The Provost of the college, Dr. Isiaka Opobiyi, urged the striking workers to consider the academic interests of the students and call off their strike.

Source: Punch