Unity Schools: Strike Ends, School To Resume Monday [See Communique]

Following the strike action embarked upon by the Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) in the Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters, Federal Inspectorate Offices and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges, the Management of the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Leadership of the ASCSN met in Abuja under the Chairmanship of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity on Wednesday 15^th October, 2014 and noted that:

(a)The payment of 1^st Batch of 2007 to 2010 Promotion Arrears has commenced with the sum of N527,643,444.00 (Five hundred and twenty-seven million, six hundred and forty-three thousand, four hundred and forty-four naira) received by the Ministry from the Budget Office.

(b)         The sum of N1.7 billion still stands as arrears of promotion and other allowances yet unpaid to affected members of staff of the Ministry.  The breakdown is as follows: –

(i)          2^nd batch of 2007-2010 Promotion Arrears;

(ii)         3^rd batch of 2007 to 2010 Promotion Arrears;

(iii)        Supplementary Promotion Arrears for 2011;

(iv)       Promotion Arrears for 2012;

(v)        Re-instatement Allowance;

(vi)       Outstanding salary for newly employed staff.

The parties, then, agreed as follows:

Ø    Payment of the first batch of 2007-2010 Promotion Arrears will be completed on Friday, 17^th October, 2014.

Ø    The task force made up of representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity will link up with the Budget Office of the Federation with a view to pursuing the release of the outstanding balance of N1.7 billion before the end of the year, 2014.  A letter to that effect will be jointly signed and delivered to the Budget Office of the Federation for necessary action

Ø    The outstanding sum of N1.7 billion which covers the balance of 2007 to 2010 Promotion Arrears, the supplementary Promotion Arrears for 2011, Promotion Arrears for 2012, Outstanding salaries for new employees and re-instatement allowance, will be paid immediately the sum of N1.7 billion is released to the Federal Ministry of Education by the Budget Office.

The sum of N25 million will be set aside by the Ministry monthly (with effect from September, 2014) to offset other Allowances owed members of staff.  These allowances include:

a.   1^st 28 days in lieu of Hotel Accommodation,

b.   Duty Tour Allowance,

c.   2010 Mandatory Training Allowance,

d.   Burial Expenses Allowance,

e.   FTC course allowance,

f.    Repatriation allowance etc.

The list of those paid will be supplied to the Union on Monthly basis.

(v)                Implementation of the agreement will be monitored by the parties and update reported to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity on a monthly basis.  A copy of the Agreement will be deposited with the House of Representative Committee on Public Service Matters.

(vi)               Inspectorate Offices will be adequately funded by the Government to enable them perform their duties.

(vii)              No staff of the Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters, the Inspectorate Offices, and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges will be victimized for taking part in the strike action.

2.     In view of the foregoing, the Union hereby suspends the indefinite strike action embarked upon by its members in the Federal Ministry of Education Headquarters, the Inspectorate Offices, and the 104 Federal Unity Colleges with effect from the close of work on Friday, 17^th October, 2014.

___________________________         ___________________________

Director (HRM)                           Secretary-General,

Federal Ministry of Education               Association of Senior Civil

                                                        Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN)

                                                            

                        ____________________________________

Permanent Secretary

Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity