Research workers embark on strike

By Usman Shuaibu, Abuja

The Joint Research and Allied Institutions Sector Unions (JORAISU) comprising of Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), the Academic Staff Union of Research Institution (ASURI) as well as the Senior Staff Association (SSA) on Monday staged a peaceful protest to press for their demands from the government of the day, calling on the Federal Government to establish a National Research Commission that will regulate the activities of the research institutions.
Chairman of NASU, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) Sheda, Comrade Olufemi Alabi, said the unions were embarking on the strike due to the failure of the federal government to implement the content of the agreement reached with the unions since 31st of January, 2011.
He charged government to deem it necessary to pay the strike workers their peculiar allowances as was being paid to their counterparts at the Universities.
He pleaded with the government to implement the 65 years of retirement age of the research workers, adding that the government should also pay the strike workers their one year salary.
Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Teaching Hospital and Research Institution and Allied (SSATHRIA), Comrade Justin Nwokedi, said the three unions would not call-off the strike until the Federal Government looked into their issues.
Nwokedi disclosed that the government had been owing the workers since 2010 including their promotion arrears.
Chairman of ASURI, Comrade (Dr) Igah Sunny Odiagbe, urged the government to consider the plight of the aggrieved workers.
The Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof. Junaid Ismail, said government would do everything possible to response to the grievances of the workers.