Staff associations in three state-owned institutions in Akwa Ibom State have begun a three days warning strike, shutting down academic activities at Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Collage of Education, Afaha Nsit and Akwa Ibom State College of Art and Science in Ikono Local Government Area. The strike followed alleged non-payment of salaries by the state government.
The workers, who are members of SSANIP, NASU and SSUCOEN after a meeting at the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, began the protest over what they described as “The non-implementation of 65 years retirement age for non-teaching staff, non-payment of 2014 promotions and payment of arrears by the Akwa Ibom State Government.
The protesters were armed with placards.
Addressing newsmen after the protest march, the Chairman, SSANIP, Mr Emmanuel Ekpo, said that the protest was called after many years of pleading with the state government and others in the education sector with nothing to show for it.
He said that apart from the non-implementation of 65 years retirement age for non-teaching staff, non-payment of 2014 promotions and payment of arrears by the state government, there were other conditions the state government must fulfil before they call off the strike action.