College Of Education Lecturers To Decide on Indefinite Strike July 19
Lecturers in Colleges of Education across Nigeria are set to decide on whether to embark on an indefinite strike on July 19, following unresolved issues with the Federal Government and relevant education authorities.
The decision is expected to be taken by the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) at its forthcoming meeting, where members will review the government’s response to their long-standing demands.
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Background to the Planned Action
According to union sources, the proposed strike action is a result of the government’s failure to fully implement previous agreements, particularly those relating to welfare, funding, and conditions of service for lecturers in Colleges of Education.
Some of the key issues raised by the lecturers include:
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Non-implementation of approved salary structures and allowances
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Inadequate funding of Colleges of Education
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Poor infrastructure and learning facilities
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Delays in the release of earned academic allowances
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Uncertainty surrounding the future of Colleges of Education following policy reforms
COEASU has repeatedly warned that continued neglect of these issues could cripple the teacher-training sector and negatively affect the quality of education in the country.
Possible Impact on Academic Activities
If the lecturers resolve to embark on an indefinite strike, academic activities in federal, state, and private Colleges of Education nationwide may be brought to a halt. This could disrupt lectures, examinations, teaching practice programmes, and the academic calendar for thousands of students.
Education stakeholders have expressed concern that another prolonged strike could further worsen learning gaps and delay graduation for students training to become teachers.
Union’s Position
The union leadership has maintained that the strike option remains a last resort, stressing that it prefers dialogue over industrial action. However, COEASU insists that without concrete commitments and visible action from the government, its members may have no choice but to withdraw their services.
A final communiqué is expected to be issued after the July 19 meeting, outlining the union’s decision and the next line of action.
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Call for Government Intervention
Education advocates have urged the Federal Government to act swiftly to avert the looming strike by engaging the union meaningfully and addressing its demands. They warn that instability in Colleges of Education could have long-term consequences for Nigeria’s basic and secondary education system, which relies heavily on trained teachers from these institutions.
