Cross River College Of Health Technology Embark On Strike

Following the suspension of the Consolidated Polytechnic and Colleges of Education and Academic Salary Structure (CONPCASS) by the state government, workers at the Cross River College of Health Technology on Monday have embarked on a one-week warning strike to express their dissatisfaction with the government’s decision.

In an address released to journalists in Calabar by the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Bright Ewona, described the suspension of the CONPCASS and the Consolidated Tertiary Educational Salary Structure by the state government in November 2019 as “unwarranted”.

He further stressed that the CONPCASS and CONTEDISS salary structures were backed by federal government agencies, adding that both payment structures were approved by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission in 2010 and implemented in 2011 for all polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of health technology in Nigeria.

In his words: “While other institutions of the same cadre, both at federal and state level were enjoying the scale, Cross River College of Health Technology was denied the benefit for over seven years.

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“Kudos to Governor Ben Ayade who saw the pain in our hearts and granted approval for the implementation of the structure for the college in September 2018.

“The college in its magnanimity conceded the arrears as part of its sacrifice and contributions for the support and promotion of this administration.

He lamented, saying that “The sudden withdrawal of these structures from the college in November 2019 after the re-accreditation of the college and its programmes by the National Board for Technical Education and the various professional bodies is therefore highly unfortunate, disappointing, and demotivating to the entire college community.

“Having exhausted all avenues, including the expiration of the 14 days ultimatum, we ask our members to withdraw their services for one week beginning from November 23 to 29.

“Thereafter, unions would decide the next action to take according to labour demands if the government fails to restore the payment of the CONPCASS and CONTEDISS salary structures in the college,” he said.