Workers in the research institutions under the auspices of the Joint Research and Allied Institutions Sector Unions, JORAISU, have denied suspending their ongoing seven months’ old strike.
The General Secretaries of Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, Peters Adeyemi and Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions, ASURI, Theophilus Ndubuaku disclosed this in Abuja on Sunday.
In a letter to the chairmen, secretaries and members of ASURI, Ndubuaku said contrary to the press statement on suspension of strike, issued by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment on the Thursday, May 5, 2022, the strike is still on.
The unions say The statement by the Ministry is a misconstruction of reality.
The General Secretary of NASU, one of the three unions participating in the strike also disowned the statement issued by the ministry of Labour.
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NASU argued that they don’t know what the statement issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment is trying to achieve.
The unions insist government has not implemented the pending 12 months’ arrears of the new salary structure approved for the workers in research institutes despite several Memorandum of Agreements and Memorandum of Understandings reached.
Other issues in dispute include the 65 years retirement age, inadequate funding of research institutes, the establishment of the National Agricultural Research Institutes Commission and skipping of CONTISS Ten Salary Structure.
The Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions, SSAUTHRIAI is the third union that is participating in the strike.
