Academic staff of the Ebonyi State College of Education, under the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), have announced a fresh 7-day warning strike ultimatum to protest poor salaries and unfavorable working conditions.
The union disclosed that the latest action follows the expiration of an earlier 14-day ultimatum issued to the college management and Ebonyi State Government, which failed to produce any meaningful response.
Speaking in Abakaliki, COEASU Chairman, Dr. Nnachi Ama, expressed concern over the deteriorating welfare of lecturers, stating that the current conditions have led to severe hardship among staff.
According to him, the institution still operates on 87% of the outdated 2010 salary structure, while other colleges across Nigeria have transitioned to the 2024 CONPASS salary scale. He further revealed that lecturers in the college are still earning a ₦30,000 minimum wage, far below the newly approved ₦70,000 national minimum wage, with some states reportedly paying up to ₦90,000.
Dr. Ama lamented that the financial strain has had serious consequences, including the death of eight staff members in 2025 due to lack of access to medical care. He added that at least seven lecturers are currently battling critical health conditions but cannot afford treatment.
The union also raised concerns over the non-payment of pensions and gratuities, noting that retired staff leave service without receiving their entitlements.
Blaming the college management for inaction, the union alleged that authorities have failed to engage the state governor to address the situation, despite directives given during the 2024 Workers’ Day celebration.
COEASU warned that failure to meet its demands—including full salary implementation under the 2024 structure and improved welfare packages—will result in an indefinite strike.
Following the expiration of the initial ultimatum on March 13, 2026, the union reaffirmed its stance in a statement signed by Chairman Dr. Nnachi Ama and Secretary Dr. Augustine Igwe.
The statement emphasized the urgent need for:
- Immediate implementation of the 2024 CONPASS salary structure
- Payment of full salaries owed to staff
- Government intervention to ensure pension and gratuity payments
The union stressed that continued neglect by authorities would disrupt academic activities, warning that a strike remains unavoidable if their demands are not addressed within the new 7-day deadline.
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