Bello bans trade union in Kogi higher institutions

THE Kogi state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Wednesday banned all forms of unionism in the state owned tertiary institutions in the state.

This is coming as the governor said a fraud of N157 million was uncovered and perpetrated by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Kogi state polytechnic, Lokoja.

The governor, who said this at the Government House, Lokoja, said the ban on unionism covered all the state owned tertiary institutions, adding that the directive was with immediate effect.

According to him, the proscription order followed the decision of the members of staff of the polytechnic to embark on strike when there was no dispute between them and government.

He stated that government had made tremendous progress in resolving all issues relating to adequacy and frequency of remuneration for all categories of civil servants in the state.

He said government was however disturbed trade unions in the state owned tertiary institutions had lent itself to impending “government’s efforts to carry out holistic reforms of the Civil Service in Kogi State through unjustified and unjustifiable strikes/industrial actions.

“The branch of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Trade Unions of Tertiary Institutions Owned by Kogi State in Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja has proceeded on yet another strike for alleged non-payment of salaries and emoluments irrespective of clear evidence of Government’s good faith and efforts contradicting JAC’s position.

“Evidence of massive embezzlement of the Kogi State Polytechnic’s earnings in excess of N157m committed under JAC’s nose and Government’s efforts to bring the fraudsters to justice have not persuaded JAC to work with Government to resolve all extant issues bedeviling the Institution’s cash flow. This strike has once again ground academic activities to a halt and thrown students out of their classrooms into an uncertain fate”.

Bello said government found the state of affairs foisted upon the state by the current strike action by JAC in Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja unacceptable.

While proclaiming the proscription of the unions, the governor said government would consider ‘all academic staff of the institution who do not resume normal academic duties immediately as having resigned from the employment of the Kogi State Government and of the Institution, and to treat them accordingly.

“Take steps to immediately find and engage suitable replacements for all academic staff vacancies, including those who have left, may wish to leave or who are deemed to have left the service of the Kogi State Government and the institutions as a result of this ban and start the process of employing all other categories of staff required by the respective institutions based on compelling need”.

He however directed law enforcement and security agencies in the state to remain vigilant and be proactive in preventing the breakdown of law and order in any part of Kogi state as a result of the ban.

Bello said, “Government remains committed to meeting her obligations to all genuine employees as promptly as available resources will permit. Government will work to ensure uninterrupted academic calendar henceforth in all basic education, secondary and tertiary academic institutions in Kogi State”.