COLLEGES OF EDUCATION ACADEMIC STAFF UNION

(C O E A S U)
NATIONAL SECRETARIAT
(An Affiliate of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC))
Address:C/o National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Central Business District, Abuja
President: Dr. Smart Olugbeko. Tel: 0803 351 7641, 0811 552 7048; General Secretary: Dr. Ahmed Lawan Bazza. Tel: 0803 349 2119, 0805 920 2939
www.coeasu.org.ng

COMMUNIQUÉ
A Communiqué emanating from the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at
Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State on Friday, 10th June, 2022.

The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union
(COEASU) met at Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Delta State on Friday, 10 th
June, 2022 to assess the level of responsible action by the Federal Government and decide the way
forward upon the lapse of 21-day ultimatum issued by the Union on the lingering issues of
industrial concern. The meeting, which was attended by 51 Chapters comprising of 111 delegates
including former Presidents and members of the National Officers’ Council (NOC), resolved as
follows after extensive deliberations:

I. STATUS OF FESTERING ISSUES

NEC received with utter disappointment the continued inaction of Government on lingering issues
in spite of the Union’s lengthy perseverance and uncommon disposition towards alternative
dispute resolution. It was considered more worrisome that the FG has failed to reciprocate the
patience of COEASU which was underpinned by concern for the plight of the students and the
system since December 5th 2018, when the last strike action was suspended. After extensive
deliberations and dispassionate assessment of the series of engagements of National Officers’
Council with Government officials and critical stakeholders, NOC, while appreciating these efforts
and promising disposition of relevant authorities including the Honourable Minister of Education,
resolved that only desired results through tangible action by Government would have been enough
to prevent industrial action as the Union’s ultimatum lapsed on Monday, 6th June, 2022.
Specifically, NEC condemned non-resolution of the following lingering issues:

1. Failure of FG to constitute its own Team and commence renegotiation of FGN-COEASU

2010 Agreement in spite of all entreaties of the Union.

2. Non-release of N15billion approved out of the N456,599,691,914.18Billion revitalization

fund recommended for both Federal and State Colleges of Education contrary to repeated
promises of the FG.

Vice Presidents: North Central, Noah Danlami; North East, Muhammed Bello Umar; North West, Dr. Muhammed Shehu Jabaka;
South South, Dr. Oweisana Akpokabowei; South West, Olusegun Lana;
Ex-Officio I, Nuhu Ogirima; Ex-Officio II, Taiwo A, Olayanju
 3. Non – implementation of the consequential effect of the implementation of CONTISS15 on
Lower Cadre(a.k.a. Migration) since 2018

4. Poor Funding of Colleges of Education and poor conditions across State-owned Colleges of
Education especially in Ogun, Kwara, Abia, Kogi, Zamfara, Yobe and Edo States.

5. Federal Government’s recalcitrant insistence on IPPIS against more reliable alternative of UTAS.

II. RESOLUTIONS
NEC unanimously resolved that:
1. The total strike action suspended by the Union in December 2018 be resumed immediately
for four weeks in the first instance. NEC shall reconvene after the four weeks strike action
to re-assess the level of Government’s commitment on the issues for appropriate decision
on way forward thenceforth.

2. Every Chapter Congress across the federation should convene on Tuesday, 14th June, 2022
to adequately inform the Congress on the commencement of the strike action due the
festering issues and the status of inaction leading to the industrial action.

3. Leadership of the Union at all levels (National, Zonal and Chapter) should embark on
emphatic media campaign towards seamless public awareness on the issues leading to the
strike action.

4. The strike action shall be total and all members of the academic staff in all Colleges of
Education (both Federal and State) must withdraw from all statutory duties without
exemption.

5. All State-owned Colleges already on industrial action to press home local demands should
impress on their respective Managements that the local strike shall continue in the
unexpected event that their local issues remain unresolved by the end of the nation wide
strike.

6. Vice Presidents/Zonal Coordinators shall monitor the compliance of Chapters in their

respective Zones while defaulting Chapters shall be prevented from enjoying the gains of
the struggle and earn themselves other sanctions as NEC shall deem applicable based on
normal Union regulations pertaining to Collective Bargaining.

Dr. Smart Olugbeko Dr. Ahmed Lawan Bazza

President General Secretary

Vice Presidents: North Central, Noah Danlami; North East, Muhammed Bello Umar; North West, Dr. Muhammed Shehu Jabaka;
South South, Dr. Oweisana Akpokabowei; South West, Olusegun Lana;
Ex-Officio I, Nuhu Ogirima; Ex-Officio II, Taiwo A, Olayanju