By Festus Ahon
UGHELLI — STRIKING lecturers of the three Delta State Polytechnics of Ozoro, Ogwashi-Uku, Otefe-Oghara and the three Colleges of Education of Agbor, Warri and Mosogar, have expressed concern over the lingering industrial dispute, which had forced students  home.

The unions, Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, have meanwhile enjoined the state government to convey its commitment to meet their demands in writing and expedite action on the implementation of agreement reached with the unions.

According to a communique by the unions after a joint meeting, yesterday, they commended the state Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, for setting up of a negotiation/harmonization committee to meet with the unions.

The unions also commended the state Commissioner for Education, Dr. Hope Eghagha, for providing the enabling environment for the committee and the unions to meet, towards resolving the issues that led to the industrial action.

The communique by chairmen and secretaries of all the unions, hailed the committee for painstakingly working with them with a view to resolving the impasse.

While insisting that the outstanding CONTISS arrears, CONPCASS, CONTISS 15 and the accruing sums should be paid with July 2010 salary,  the said that its members should be exempted from the contributory pension scheme, adding “that the 1% field allowance be implemented without discrimination.”