Worried by the unpaid benefits of its members, the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria has ordered the immediate closure of the three Federal Government Colleges in Rivers State.
State Secretary of the association, Mr. Mohammed Bashman, told newsmen in Port Harcourt on Monday that he was instructed by the national body of the union to direct members to embark on an indefinite strike.
Bashman also said he was asked by the national leadership of the association to lock main entrances of the three Federal Government Colleges in the state.
Listing the schools as Federal Government College, Ahaoda, Federal Government Colleges in Abuloma and Rumuokoro, Bashman explained that that three schools visited by the association had already shown compliance to the directive on industrial action.
According to him, the 104 Colleges of Education across the country will be shut to express the association’s resentment over the non-payment of its members’ benefits.
Bashman stated that the indefinite strike embarked upon by members of the association would ensure that the Federal Government paid their outstanding benefits.
He recalled that some members of the ASCSN were promoted from 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2013 without getting their benefits, adding that members of union are yet to receive August salaries.
“The problem is that some of our members were promoted from 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2013 without benefits. Since last month, for reasons best known to Federal Government, some of our members have not received their salaries.
“We are saying enough is enough. They have been pleading with us with a lot of promises, but we have come to realize that these people are not to be trusted. This time around, we are matching them force to force.
“Some of our members, who were promoted since 2007 and 2009, are yet to get their promotion benefits. We are also calling on the parents to reason with us by allowing their children to stay at home for now. We are also parent,” Bashman stated.
He pointed out that the money had since been released after approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria and wondered why members of the union had not been paid.
According to him, “This money has been release, even the Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the money; we have our evidence.
“We called for a meeting last week Wednesday, but they (Federal Government officials) refused to come. The Ministry of Labour and the Head Service have also pleaded, but the truth is that they are not serious.”
