Big Crisis Hits College of Education Afaha Nsit over Demand for Written Apology on Suspended Lecturers

…NLC Kicks, Says Lecturers are innocent

By Ekemini Simon

All is not well at the Akwa Ibom State College of Education, Afaha Nsit as the recent demand of apologies from the four suspended lecturers of the institution has birthed a big crisis that may lead to strike action in the institution with calls for removal of the provost of the college.

It could be recalled that after intervention from the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, the Governing Council of Akwa Ibom State College of Education had demanded individual written apology letters from the four lecturers who were suspended and notes of undertaking, communicating alliance to be of good conduct. 

The four lecturers; Dr. Godwin Akpan, Department of Education Foundation and Chairman Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) Afaha Nsit, Mr. Okon Inyang, Department of Biology, Secretary of COEASU, Mr. Ofonime Udo, Department of Mathematics, PRO of COEASU and Dr. Ubong Akpan, Department of Social Science were reportedly suspended in June 23, 2022 after implementing the National directive of COEASU on nationwide strike to press home demands for Colleges of Education across the country.

Briefing newsmen after a Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) State Executive Council emergency meeting held at workers solidarity centre, Uyo on September 1, 2022, the Chairman of NLC, Comrade Sunny James said the congress of the State Executive Council deliberated and took decisions on the lingering crisis in the institution and resolved that the decision of the Chapter of Akwa Ibom State College of Education was not the intention and that of the college but a national directive to proceed on nationwide strike.

He said ” Everybody is aware that the national strike of Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) started on the 14th day of June 2022 and Akwa Ibom State College of Education Afaha Nsit cannot be exempted from partaking in that national strike action. 

“Before now, the strike was domesticated on the 30th of March 2022 where all the workers in attendance in their congress accepted to join the national strike and as they returned from Asaba, Delta State with the directive, they had to write to the provost and the Governor of Akwa Ibom State through the Office of the Head of Service. 

“That communicated the decision of the National Secretariat to proceed on a strike action of the college to press home the decisions that are bordering on all the members of COEASU in the country in which College of Education Afaha Nsit is inclusive. It is little wonder that that meeting ended and the notice was served to the provost and the Government of Akwa Ibom State.

” But rather than the provost to comply with the directive, he went ahead to fix other issues and meetings of the college where the labour leaders went in to ask for the compliance of the strike action. Rather than the provost to trade the path of peace, he arrested the labour leaders on June 21, 2020. Promptly, the NLC intervened and they were released. That was only the genesis of the problem.”

Comrade James noted that the NLC after the intervention, wrote to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State who mandated the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) to intervene in the matter.

 He said after the first intervention by the SSG, the speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly mandated the Committee on Education to intervene on the matter which led to the Head of Civil Service, Commissioner for Labour, Commissioner for Education, the Council Chairman of the College, the provost of the College, the NLC Chairman and the branch leadership of COEASU to be present at the meeting.

The NLC Chairman recounted that on August 8, 2022, the House committee in their wisdom directed that everyone should lay down their arms and let status quo be maintained implying that everyone should stay action until the decision of the House billed for August 16, 2022.

He added ” The House met again on the 16th of August with the Council chairman in attendance and the House directed that the Council Chairman should together with his members resolve the matter in the council meeting that was billed for August 23, 2022. 

“Surprisingly, the council in session of their meeting of August 23, blatantly refused to adhere to the instructions and directives of the State House of Assembly. The resolution was published by media houses.

“For them to refuse to adhere to the directive of the House of Assembly is considered an insult to the House of Assembly. Therefore, NLC in their SEC meeting, resolved to stand with the House of Assembly to ensure that the committee’s directive is respected to the latter.

“On a letter dated August 23, 2022 written to the Chairman of the Union and other labour leaders that were affected by the action and copied the Nigeria Labour Congress, the letter states that the labour leaders were found culpable by the action they took that day to enforce compliance of the strike. That the committee set up by them has tendered an apology on behalf of the labour leaders and it is accepted and that the labour leaders are restored back to work but that the labour leaders are subjected to written apology and letter of undertaking to be of good behavior.”

Comrade James insisted that the State Executive Council of NLC condemns the action by the Governing Council of Akwa Ibom State College of Education because it does not reflect the decision of the House of Assembly Committee on Education.

 The NLC Chairman said the Labour Force in the State considers the action taken as an insult on the State Executive Council and the House of Assembly hence they want to put it on record that the labour leaders did not do anything wrong to deserve what he described as humiliation from the council.

He pointed out that the labour leaders of the institution can “never” be found culpable by the committee which he said has taken side in the decision that they took.

Comrade James added “All that we know is that if there was a council decision to an investigated matter, they are supposed to have done that conclusively before suspension is meted. For them to do what they have done now, they are rather trying to seek self help in a matter that is already before public domain and therefore contravening the directive of the House of Assembly.

“For them to tender a written apology, it is not done anywhere that a national directive will be subjected to the branch to write a written apology. The Governing Council and the Provost should send their demand for apologies to the National Secretariat who gave the directive. Let them write it to them if they need an apology.

“It should be on record that the Provost, Comrade Daniel Udoh is a former labour leader. He should show to the NLC the kind of apologies that he wrote in all the strike actions he enforced in the University of Uyo when he was the Secretary and Chairman of ASUU”

The NLC Chairman noted that it is the resolution of NLC that they will not accept the demands on the labour leaders even as they have further taken a decision that the House of Assembly who has played the fatherly role on the matter be given 14 days as the NLC will continue to work with them to see how this matter will be resolved. 

He said after 14 days, which commenced on September 1 2022, a notice of strike action will be issued to the College Management and Akwa Ibom State Government.

The Chairman added “We will stop at nothing to ensure Comrade Daniel Udoh fails woefully in the discharge of his duties as the Provost of this college and NLC will in that effect seek for his removal.”

Attempts to reach the Provost of College Education Afaha Nsit, Mr. Daniel Udoh for comment were not successful. He did not respond to his call, and text message at the time of filing this report.

Similarly, the contact of the Chairman of Council, Mr. Daniel Abia was unreachable.

TheMail sought to find out the reason for insisting on a written apology despite the claim of innocence highlighted by the NLC.