WORKERS under the aegis of Joint Research and Allied Institutions Sector Unions (JORAISU) have called on the federal government to clear the N9 billion balance of arrears of the Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure before this week’s Wednesday or risk industrial action.
The National Chairman of JORAISU, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, who delivered the ultimatum in Abuja on Monday at a press conference, said the unions would call out its members on Wednesday, October 13, if their demands were not addressed by the government.
Comrade Adeyemi, who is also the General Secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), added that the indefinite strike would not be called off until the demands of the unions were resolved.
Comrade Adeyemi, who said the arrears are owed workers in 67 Research and Allied Institutions, accused the government of failing to honour agreements reached 10 years ago with the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, the Senior Staff Association of Universities, Teaching Hospitals, Research Institutes and Associated Institutions and Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions, the unions which make up JORAISU.
He said, “This press conference is called because of the refusal of the federal government to implement the agreement reached with JORAISU in December 2010, over which we have issued the federal government a 15-day ultimatum to fully implement the 10-year agreement, failing which JORAISU leadership will have no option than to call out its members in about 67 Research and Allied Institutions effective Wednesday, 13th October, for an indefinite strike action, and until the issues in dispute are resolved, the strike action will not be called off.”
Comrade Adeyemi accused the government of failing to meet JORAISU’s demands despite a 15-day ultimatum issued on September 13, 2021.
“The leadership noticed with dismay that up till the expiration of this ultimatum, the government didn’t deem it necessary to respond to our correspondence on the dispute.
“That notwithstanding, JORAISU leadership being committed to continued dialogue on this matter held another meeting on 27th September 2021 and agreed to extend the initial 15-day ultimatum by another 15 days from Tuesday, 28th September 2021 which will expire midnight Tuesday, 12th October 2021.”
“Without doubt, it is evidently clear from the above that our continued efforts to promote industrial peace in the Research and Allied Institutions are not being appreciated by the government.
“However, if by the expiration of this additional 15-day ultimatum, the government fails to do the needful, the leadership of JORAISU would not be held liable for the strike action that will commence from the midnight of Tuesday, 12th October 2021,” said Comrade Adeyemi.
