The Joint Union Congress of the Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku, in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State, comprising Academic staff Union (COEASU), senior staff Union of College of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN) and non-Academic staff union (NASU) has threatened to embark on indefinite strike over incessant kidnapping of their members. The congress said it has given the state government upto the end of January 2013 to find solution to the ragging of insecurity problem or risk total closure of the institution until the situation improves.
This was contained in a press statement issued and signed by the chairman of COEASU, Comrd. Godfrey Chima Peters, Comrd Nwanosike Oba, SSUCOEN chairman and Comrd Orike Christian NASU chairman, as well as the secretaries of COEASU, SSUCOEN and NASU, in the persons of Comrd (chief) Ebelogu U.K, Comrd. Ekine Pakaye and Comrd. Wokocha Ireju.
The congress said it regretted that 2 of its members have been abducted by unknown gunmen since the insurgence of the kidnapping business in the area with Dr. Richard Ihua-Maduenyi murdered by his abductors on October 12, 2012 and another lecturer (member), Mr. I. F. Nyanabo (Ex-Deputy Provost) being kidnapped on 21st January, 2013 on his way to the office.
The statement affirmed that, “the joint Union Congress of College of Education met and resolved as follow: “That the Unions Condemn the high state of insecurity of life in Omoku occasioned by the total ineffectiveness and inefficiency of security agencies in the Local Government Area as well as the complacency and negligence of the Local Government Chairman”.
“That the Rivers State Commissioner of Police should ensure that Mr. I. F. Nyanabo is released within 24 hours.
“ That the Unions demand that the entire security outfit (OPO, JTF, SSS, Mopol, and Civil Defence) in Omoku should be overhauled and revived” amongst other.
The union further threatened that if their plea is not addressed to before the end of January, the joint Union Congress shall embark on a peaceful protest to the Presidency and the National Assembly as well as declaring a strike to address the situation. ###
Barth Ndu
