We’re not aware of any notice – Commissioner
By Mike Adeyemi
The Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Kwara State branch has issued a 14-day ultimatum to Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, requesting for the extension of 65 years statutory retirement age of its members.
This was contained in a statement signed by the Chairman of NASU Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Comrade Najeemudeen Anas on Tuesday.
NASU, stated that if the state government failed to comply with the Federal Government’s directive on the issue of 65 years statutory age for retirement of its members, the union may resort to indefinite strike.
“In line with the directive of our national headquarters, we are instructed to give the state government 14-working days ultimatum to effect the approval of 65 years retirement age.
“It is unfortunate that despite that many other states in the country have complied with the directive of the FG on this issue, the Kwara State Government over the years has not.”
The union urged the state government to do the needful in order to encourage its members across five tertiary institutions in the state to be more committed to their duties.
“For over three years now, NASU had engaged the Kwara State Government in form of persuasion towards getting this issue addressed amicably, but nothing concrete has been done.
“To this effect, the committee of the five affected state-owned institutions which include, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, College of Education, Ilorin, College of Education, Oro, College of Arabic and Islamic Legal Studies and College of Education (Technical), Lafiagi, resolved in a meeting held on Tuesday to issue a 14-day ultimatum to the state government and if this fails, we might eventually resort to self help.”
Speaking, the NASU Chairman, Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, Comrade Abdulraman Abdulhamid accused the government of not being fair to the union.
When contacted, the state Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Barr. Abdullahi Alikinla said he was yet to be communicated on any ultimatum issued by NASU to the state government.
“We are not aware of it; maybe they directed their letter straight to the office of the Governor. Ideally, they are supposed to forward the said letter through the Kwara State Ministry of Tertiary Education. It is my ministry that would now get it channelled to the office of the Governor.
“As I speak, we are not aware of any such ultimatum,” he submitted.
