Subsidy: Colleges of education lecturers limit campus attendance to twice weekly

Lecturers represented by the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union have announced their decision to limit their campus presence to two days weekly until the government addresses the challenges caused by the subsidy removal, which has resulted in significant hardships for its members.

In a press statement issued by Dr. Sam Olugbeko, the national president of the union, it was highlighted that the current minimum wage is insufficient for members to sustain their livelihoods. Consequently, the union has directed its members to attend work only twice a week.

“The National leadership of our great Union in its extraordinary meeting held on Tuesday, 18th July 2023 had agreed to direct its members to go to work two days weekly until Federal Government yields to its demand of 200 percent increase in salary amidst the difficulty of members to get to work as a result of hike in the price of petrol,” the statement reads.

According to the statement, the fuel subsidy removal implemented two months ago led to a 250% increase in the price of petrol, exacerbating inflation rates on transportation, food, and essential commodities, and significantly impacting the economic well-being of Nigerians. Despite enduring the hardships with the hope of receiving government-promised palliative measures, such as a substantial salary increase, members now find it increasingly difficult to commute to work due to the rising petrol prices and transport costs.

In response to this situation, the union deems it necessary to instruct its members to work only two days a week temporarily, pending the ratification of this decision and determination of specific workdays through an emergency NEC meeting.

“Against this backdrop, it has become inevitable for the Union to direct members to go to work only two days weekly while an emergency NEC meeting shall be convened to ratify this decision and decide on the specific days of the week members are to go to work,” according to the information contained in the statement.

The union also highlights the stagnant salary structure for staff at Colleges of Education, which has remained unchanged since 2010 despite multiple petrol price increases, resulting in a tenfold rise from N65/N70 in 2010 to N650 in 2023. The government’s refusal to return to the negotiation table on welfare packages for staff after the union proposed a 200% salary increase further fuels discontent.

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Calling on the government to take immediate action, the union warns that prolonged campus absences will lead to an extended academic calendar, with a semester of 16 weeks potentially doubling to 32 weeks or more, and Teaching Practice exercises lasting six months extending to 12 months.

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In a plea to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the union seeks prompt attention to the salary adjustment issue, drawing on the president’s past record of generously increasing staff salaries in Lagos State-owned Colleges of Education during his tenure as Governor.

The union appeals to the government to address these concerns urgently to prevent a crisis in colleges of education and its adverse impact on students and the academic calendar.