Ebonyi Lecturers Threaten Strike Again, Issue Fresh 7-Day Deadline
By Nkechinyere Ewa, Abakaliki
Tension is mounting at the Ebonyi State College of Education as members of the (COEASU) have handed down a fresh seven-day ultimatum to the institution’s management and the state government over unresolved welfare issues, raising fears of an imminent strike.
The union had earlier issued a 14-day ultimatum last month demanding improved conditions of service, but said the deadline expired without any concrete action from the authorities.
In a statement issued and made available to journalists in Abakaliki on Wednesday, the union’s Chairman, Dr. Nnachi Ama, described the situation as dire, noting that poor remuneration and lack of welfare support have plunged members into hardship.
he statement revealed that eight staff of the college died in 2025 from treatable ailments due to their inability to afford medical care, while at least seven others are currently critically ill.
He further lamented that the college still operates on about 87 per cent of the 2010 salary structure, unlike other colleges that have transitioned to the 2024 structure.
According to him, many staff still earn as low as ₦30,000 minimum wage, far below the ₦70,000 benchmark and subsequent adjustments approved by the state government.
The union also decried the non-payment of pension and gratuity to retired staff, stressing that many leave service without any terminal benefits.
Ama accused the college management of failing to take proactive steps to engage the state government, alleging that the inaction may be because management staff are not affected by the salary shortfall.
He warned that failure to meet their demandsincluding implementation of the 2024 CONPASS salary structure and immediate engagement with the governor—would leave the union with no option than to embark on a warning strike.
In a statement jointly signed by Ama and the union’s Secretary, Dr Nnachi Ama and Augustine Dr. Augustine Igwe, COEASU expressed disappointment that the earlier ultimatum, which expired on March 13, yielded no results.
The union reiterated its demands and urged the college management to urgently interface with the state government to resolve the lingering issues.
It stressed that failure to act within the new seven-day window would trigger industrial action, potentially disrupting academic activities in the institution.
