by By George Odok Jr
The Student Union Government of the Cross River College of Health Technology has concluded plans to lead a massive protest to Gov. Ben Ayade’s office for failure of the governor to restore the salary structure of staff of the College.
Addressing newsmen in Calabar, SUG President of the institution, Bassey Chima Kedemiti, said that the incessant strike embarked upon by staff of the institution over the salary structure had disrupted their academic calendar and directly prolonged their stay in school.
It would be recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) of the institution embarked on a one week warning strike over the suspension of its Consolidated Polytechnic and Colleges of Education and Academic Salary Structure by the state government.
The suspension of the Consolidated Polytechnic Academic Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and the Consolidated Tertiary Educational Salary Structure (CONTEDISS) by the state government in Nov. 2019 has been described by members of the unions as “unwarranted”.
CONPCASS and CONTEDISS salary structures were approved by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission in 2010 and implemented in 2011 for all Polytechnics, Monotechnics and College of Health Technology in Nigeria.
The SUG President lamented that their license examination have been put on hold because of the incessant strikes by lecturers of the institution over the salary structure.
“We are a population of over 5,000 students and we are hitting the street on a peaceful protest on November 30th if the state government fails to restore the salary structure of our staff.
“We are going to block the road on that day and there will be no movement along Mary Slessor road in Calabar. As the SUG President, I am going to lead over 3,000 students in a peaceful protest if the state government doesn’t restore the salary structure of staff of this institution.
“I know what our students can do, hence it will be nice for the governor to restore the salary structure and allow us have a smooth academic calendar,” he said.
Also speaking, the NACRISS President of the Institution, Comrade Obongha David Igri, said that the state government had neglected the welfare of their staff since 2017.
According to him, “College of Health Technology Calabar hardly embark on strike, not until this present administration came on board”.
“I must tell you the truth, the state government has not tried in meeting with the demands of staff of this institution.
“Students were supposed to have graduated and be mobilised for NYSC, but the state government had drastically reduced the salary of staff of this institution.
“We appeal with the state government to restore the salary structure of staff of this institution for the sake of the students.
“I am joining my strength with the SUG President to say that if the salary structure is not restored, we will embark on a massive protest on November 30th to the governor’s office,” he said.
