The College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) at the Federal College of Education Technical (FCET) in Gusau has unconditionally suspended its strike, marking the return of academic activities at the institution.
According to our reporter in Gusau, the strike, which lasted over three months, was called off today following an extensive meeting held by the union members at the college.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, a member of the COEASU and FCET Gusau academic union, Mr. Muktar Abdullahi, expressed apologies to parents, guardians, and students for the disruptions caused by the prolonged strike.
“I would like to start by apologizing to the students. We will overcome the long absence of academic activities. Full resumption of academics is sacrosanct,” he stated.
Mr. Abdullahi noted that the decision to end the strike was reached unconditionally. “Union members met and successfully resolved the issues at stake, paving the way for the resumption of classes.” He said
The strike had sparked recent protests from a coalition of Zamfara State civil society groups and supporters of FCET Gusau’s progress.
The coalition criticized the COEASU chapter at FCET Gusau, accusing them of hindering educational advancement.
Alhaji Nasiru Garba, speaking on behalf of the coalition, expressed solidarity with Hajiya Hauwa’u Mukhtar Abdul Karim, the college’s first female and indigenous provost since its establishment in 1988.
Garba alleged that certain union members opposed the college being led by a substantive provost, preferring to maintain the institution under caretaker leadership. This, he argued, was detrimental to the college’s progress.
He urged the federal government and the Minister of Education to consider transferring the five man group obstructing progress of the FCET to other federal colleges of education to allow the provost to continue her work unimpeded.
Additionally, the group of five senior lecturers faced accusations of rejecting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of Hajiya Hauwa’u Mukhtar Abdul Karim for allegedly selfish reasons.
They reportedly insisted on appointing a provost from among their ranks.
A college staff member, speaking anonymously, called for the intervention of civil society organizations, women’s rights advocates, and other gender advocacy groups to address the actions of these ‘cabals’ who are reportedly undermining the institution.
Report by Abdulrazak Kaura
