The Academic and the non-academic staff at the Rivers State college of Health Science and Technology, Port Harcourt have threatened to begin an indefinite strike from Tuesday the 2nd of October next week, in an emergency meeting held at the institutions auditorium following the 14 days expiration communique.
The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of the Institution (ASUP) Comrade Promise Igoma and the secretary of the Non academic Senior Staff of the Institution (SSANIP) comrade Raymond Kaine, addressed newsmen after the emergency meeting in Port Harcourt saying the decision to embark on an indefinite strike follows an alleged failure by the Rivers State government to address their demand after an initial two weeks notice.
According to the comrades, the joint union is asking the Rivers State government to improve the infrastructure in the Institution, approve the 65-year-old retirement age for staff, implement the consolidated salary structure and also to discourage the alleged interference of the State Ministry of Health.
In his statement,The Asup Chairman, com. Igoma said: following due process and to ensure that all legal procedures are met in embarking the indefinite strike, another seven days notice was issued and there after the expiration, the academic staff and the non academic senior staff of the college will embark on indefinite strike, until college of health is restored to it’s glory.
On his part, the Sec of the college union of non teaching senior staff (SSANIP), com. Raymond, said ” it is important to exercise due process, in anything the union does, gearing towards embarking on the indefinite strike, that is what we are doing, so that every quarter will look at our pains and yearnings. We gave seven working days after the elapse of the previous fourteen days, so,we will embark on maximum strike. He said.
