By Shadrach Okon
Workers of Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) on Wednesday 19 February, suspended their recent strike action which they embarked on from Monday 17 February, over the failure of Akwa Ibom State Government to meet their demands.
The Guide Newspaper reports that the decision to suspend the strike action was reached today after a meeting of AKSU workers at Akwa Ibom State University, Obio Akpa Campus.
Speaking with the Guide Newspaper on Wednesday after the meeting at Obio Akpa Campus, the chairman of the institution’s Joint Action Commission (JAC), Comrade Emmanuel Okon said workers of the institution have resolved to suspend their strike action following the state government promise to meet their demands.
“We have resolved to suspend our strike action today. All members of staff in Akwa Ibom State University are going to resume work at their various duty posts immediately. The state government has promised to attend to our demands. From next week, workers in the institution will begin their verification exercise so that they can receive their delayed benefits,” Comrade Emmanuel Okon said.
It would be recalled that on Monday 17 February, AKSU workers had embarked on strike action over Akwa Ibom State Government’s failure to constitute the governing council of the university in the past two years and the exclusion of members of staff of the institution from several benefits enjoyed by other public servants in Akwa Ibom State.
Some of the benefits which workers of the institution said they were denied of included: governor’s largesse of N20, 000 to each public servant during last July’s Public Service Week and last December’s additional pay, christened Enomber for civil servants in the state.
The Guide Newspaper reports that the chairman of the institution’s Joint Action Commission (JAC), Comrade Emmanuel Okon addressed workers of the institution after their meeting today at Obio Akpa Campus.
Comrade Emmanuel Okon while addressing the workers informed them that the state government has insisted that all workers of the university should undergo biometric capturing and verification exercise with the state accountant- general office before payment of their benefits.
The Guide Newspaper reports that workers in the institution are demanded to present their voter’s card alongside other documents during the biometric capturing and verification exercise.
The Guide reports that the issue of voter’s card as one of the requirements for verification of workers in the institution became a subject of discussion after the meeting. Workers were seen gathering in various clusters discussing the development.
A staff of AKSU who spoke with the Guide Newspaper on condition of anonymity expressed worry over the state government’s demand for workers voter’s cards as one of the requirements for their verification.
“We are civil servants, we are not expected to harbour any political sentiment towards any administration. We are expected to be apolitical in discharging our duties. Why should state government demand voter’s card as one of the requirements for verification of civil servants before they can enjoy certain benefits from government? Everything in Akwa Ibom State is politicized.” The staff said.
