NLC Urges Federal Government To Dialogue With Teachers

By Yinka Alege, Abuja

The Nigerian Labour Congress has appealed to the Federal Governemnt to dialoque with the Senior staff Association of Nigeria, Polytechnics (SSANIP) to prevent an inpending strike.
The labour congress in a letter to the minister of Education, in Abuja explained that the call was necessary as it had a “tough time” dissuading SSANIP scheduled for November 5th, 2008.
The congress (NLC) stated that the SSANIP suspended the strike for two weeks due to respect for the national labour union.
According ito the NLC, “the congress is convinced that there is an urgent need for your personal intervention to prevent a national strike across the Polytechnics.
“The NLC on Tuesday November 4th, had a tough time talking the SSANIP out of a nationwide strike, which was to commence the next day. Out of deference to congress, the union agreed to shelve the strike by two weeks”.
It observed that the main issues are the alleged non-implementation of CONTISS 15 and a number of agreements. NLC called on the ministry of Education to commence dialogue with the SSANIP.
NLC noted the disregard of SSANIP's letter of protest by the Education, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Rectors of Polytechnics has worsened the situation.
“The NLC's position is that where lecturers of members of Staff of educational institutions are aggrieved, the elementary step the ministry should take is to dialogue with them.
“unfortunately in this case the Education, the NBTE and the Rectors seem to have ignored the protest letters by SSANIP. This we consider quite.