The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in Abia ended its three-day protest against Federal Government’s “discriminatory” policy on Wednesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the union embarked on a nationwide protest to demand its inclusion in the Federal Government’s incentives for teachers in primary and secondary schools.
The protesters were mobilised from the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) and Secondary Education Management Board (SEMB).
During the grand finale of the protest, the angry workers marched to the ASUBEB and SEMB secretariats in Umuahia, chanting “solidarity for ever…” song.
They displayed placards with different inscriptions, such as “NASU rejects discriminatory policy,” We are as qualified as teachers,” among others.
The state Chairman of NASU, Mr Hope Ekwuribe, said the federal government should accommodate them in the extended age of service and retirement age policy.
Also, the Branch Chairman of NASU in ASUBEB, Dr Isidore Ibebuike, expressed sadness that the policy was not extended to the non-teaching staff.
Ibebuike urged the federal government to extend their retirement age to 65 years and length of service to 40 years like those of the teachers.
He said the union was demanding an end to all discriminatory industrial relations practices against the non-teaching staff in the primary and post primary school system.
Also, the Chairman of NASU (SEMB), Mr Okpe Arum-Okpe, said that the protest was to remind the government that teachers were not the only workers in schools.
He said that the union was also asking the federal government to put training programmes in place for members, with a view to enhancing their productivity.
Addressing the protesters, the Executive Secretary of SEMB, Mr Christopher Osuagwu, thanked them for being peaceful in their protest.
Osuagwu assured them of the board’s support to ensure their demands were addressed by the federal government.
Also, the ASUBEB Board Secretary, Mrs Chinyere Ibe, who received them on behalf of the Chairman, Mr Josiah Anonaba, thanked them for making sure the protest went on peacefully in the past three days. (NAN)
