LAGOS – The crisis rocking the Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED), Ijanikin, Lagos, took a different dimension on Thursday when the aggrieved workers took to the Lagos Badagry Expressway.
The aggrieved workers were protesting the non-implementation of their demands by the Lagos State Government and the authorities of the college.
The union of the college had on Sept. 22, held a peaceful protest to demand the payment of their 18 months’ salary arrears.
According to the protesters, only four and half months have been paid by the State Government and two months was paid by the college authority.
The protesting staff, led by their union leaders carrying different placards and chanting songs, took off from the college second gate and moved on to Agbara in Ogun.
The protesting unions, include members of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education Nigeria (SSUCOEN) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU)
The unionists, who accused the State Government and college authority of being indifferent to their plight also locked out pupils and teachers of AOCOED Staff and International schools.
The protest caused traffic gridlocks as commuters were forced to alight from buses to make their journey on foot while those who couldn’t bear it, resorted to driving one-way.
The SSUCOEN Chairman, Wunmi Ombugadu, said after their visit to Alausa and the state assembly, the government had failed to implement any of their demands.
She accused the special adviser on education to the governor of misinforming the governor about the crisis at AOCOED, saying that union leaders walked out on him during a meeting.
Ombugadu called on Gov. Fashola to set an independent committee without the involvement of his SA.
‘’We have reached the middle of the road, no going back on the struggle. The aim of this on-going struggle is to achieve results.
“Our management has also not helped matters,’’ she said.
The NASU Chairman, Mr Femi Adebayo, said the representatives of AOCOED Staff Unions (RAJUS) wrote the governor on their demands but that nothing had been heard.
“I wonder if the State Government is taking the workers for a ride,” Adebayo said.
The COEASU Chairman, Mr Avosetinyen Michael, called for continue sacrifice from members.
‘’We have come a long way on the struggle and despite government’s pronouncement nothing has been heard. It will be a battle won if we remain united.
‘’If the State Government and management fail to meet our demands, we will take our protest to the street.
“This is the only language the governor and college management understand.
“It is the best way to send a message to the governor,’’ he said.
The aggrieved workers continued with their protest despite a heavy down pour.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Provost of the college, Mr Wole Ajose, appealed to the workers to exercise patience with the school authority and government so that work could continue.
“The executive council of the college will be meeting with state executive council on Monday to continue deliberation on the matter.
“Anytime from Monday, the government might make a pronouncement towards resolving the matter,” he said. (NAN)