SSANIP threatens industrial action over unlawful sack of workers, 20 months unpaid salaries in Abia Poly

THE Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has threatened industrial actions over the unlawful sack of workers in Abia State Polytechnic by the state government and the failure of the government to pay 27 months salaries of the workers.

The union also frowned at the “unrepentant disposition” of some state governments to the issue of adequate funding of Polytechnics in their domains, adding that the cases of incomplete/non-payment of salaries of members, arbitrarily and illegal sacking of staff, non-remittance of deducted checkoff dues, were unacceptable.

In a communique issued after the SSANIP General Executive Council (GEC) meeting held at the Labour House, Abuja, the council frowned at the way and manner Abia State Government sacked and refused to pay salaries of staff for 27 months without recourse to existing rules regarding staff employment.

The communique said: “In the reasoned opinion of the Council, the act of laying off workers arbitrarily without due consideration for their welfare is more or less a practical demonstration of callousness and insensitivity against the affected staff.”

To this end, the union demanded that the relevant agencies of Abia State Government should expeditiously reinstate the affected staff with full benefits in the interest of industrial harmony in the school.

The communique signed by the SSANIP National President, Comrade Philip Ogunsipe, and the National Secretary, Comrade  Hussaini Gwandu, read: “CounciI-in-session frowns at the Iackadaisical attitude of the government towards the payment of certain approved allowances, such as Responsibility Allowances for some Principal Officers (Registrars and Bursars), Peculiar Allowances for health workers as well as promotion arrears (2017 & 2018), specifically for the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi and Federal Polytechnic, Offa. Against this backdrop, the Council implores the relevant organs of the government to do the needful on these payments in the interest of industrial harmony.

“The Council-in-session frowns at the unrepentant disposition of some State Governments to the issue of adequate funding of Polytechnics in their domains. Council found most unacceptable cases of incomplete/non-payment of salaries of members, arbitrarily and illegal sacking of staff, non-remittance of deducted checkoff dues, refusal to implement the migration to CONTISS 15, non-release of pension funds as well as unprecedentedly poor infrastructural development of these Polytechnics.

“It, therefore, resolved that the Union shall employ all reasonable resources at her disposal to make affected State Governments give attention to these issues with a view to addressing them.”

The CounciI-in-session also noted with dismay the nonchalant attitude of the Federal Government to continue with the re-negotiation of the 2010 Agreement despite the effort of the Union.

“The Council is concerned that the continued refusal of the relevant agencies of the Federal Government to resume this negotiation may adversely affect the smooth running of the Polytechnics. It, therefore, calls on the concerned agencies of the government to expedite action towards ensuring that the negotiation is re-opened to address the issues contained therein,” it added.

On the state of insecurity and tribal agitation in the country, the communique read: “The Council-in-session appreciates the President, Muhammadu Buhari for recently rejigging the national security apparatus with a view to injecting new ideas and drive, so as to improve the security situation in the county. The Council equally thank the Security Chiefs for the reinvigorated efforts geared towards enhancing the deteriorated security in the country.

“However, the Council, for the umpteenth time, wishes to lend her voice to the call on the Federal Government of Nigeria, all security forces and other stakeholders, to aggressively step up efforts to quell the seeming unabating state of insecurity traversing the entire country. Council is greatly disturbed by the needless daily loss of lives and properties occasioned by the criminal activities of some unscrupulous elements.

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