By Omoyeni Ojeifo
The Senior Staff Union in Colleges of Education Nigeria (SSUCOEN) has called for stronger unity and sustained collaboration among stakeholders in order to address structural, financial and policy challenges hindering effective administration and development in the subsector.
Comrade Ali Danladi Msheliza, SSUCOEN President, made the call at the opening ceremony of SSUCOEN 3rd Pentennial National Delegates Conference holding in Abuja from Wednesday, June 10 to Friday, June 12.
Persecondnews correspondent at the event reports that the union leader highlighted the subsector’s persistent challenges as inadequate funding and poor implementation of agreements across colleges of education nationwide.
“We continue to face the challenge of inadequate funding, poor implementation of agreements, exclusion of non-teaching staff from intervention programmes and systemic neglect of the colleges of education subsector,” he said.
Msheliza also raised concerns over insecurity and poor road infrastructure, saying they continue to endanger lives and disrupt academic and administrative activities across the nation’s institutions.
“Rising insecurity, banditry, kidnappings and the poor condition of roads and even loss of lives remain major threats to safety and national development, requiring urgent government intervention across the education sector,” he noted.
He called on the government to intervene swiftly to address insecurity, including banditry and kidnappings, and urgently rehabilitate the deteriorating road infrastructure in order to safeguard lives and improve productivity in the education sector.
Despite the challenges, the SSUCOEN President highlighted major achievements recorded during his nine-year tenure in office across the education sector, including the successful amendment of the Colleges of Education Establishment Act and renegotiation of the 2010 FGN/SSUCOEN Agreement.
“We achieved the approval of CONTEDISS 15 for Administrative Officers and Accountants serving as Deputy Registrars and Deputy Bursars, alongside consolidated salary structures for Registrars, Bursars and Librarians, inclusion of senior non-teaching staff in Governing Councils, Search Teams and Selection Boards, strengthening of college congregations, institutional reforms and expanded leadership development programmes,” he said.
“Our Union successfully established the creation of new chapters in several states, nationwide chapter visits, annual leadership retreats, improved staff welfare structures and strengthened collaboration with sister unions in the education sector,” he added.
Msheliza noted that the union also successfully secured improved participation of members in institutional decision-making processes, enhancing transparency and administrative balance across colleges.
“The achievements we recorded were made possible through dialogue, collaboration and sustained engagement with stakeholders during our nine years in office,” he said.
According to him, the conference provides an opportunity for delegates to review the union’s journey and prepare for leadership transition as new officers are expected to emerge.
“Another important chapter in the history of SSUCOEN will unfold as delegates elect a new set of national officers to lead the union for the next five years in a process anchored on unity and consensus building.”
He further commended members for their collective struggle, noting that solidarity remains central to all gains recorded by the union over the years.
“Our strength lies in unity and collective responsibility, which has sustained every gain we have achieved and strengthened our voice within the education sector over the years,” he said.
He urged continued collaboration among education sector unions and stakeholders to sustain reforms and address lingering systemic challenges in teacher education.
“As I step aside today, I am fulfilled that we are leaving behind stronger institutions, stronger relationships and stronger leadership values for the benefit of the education sector,” he said.
The conference is expected to produce a new set of national officers who will steer the affairs of SSUCOEN for the next five years.
Persecondnews reports that the conference is being attended by delegates from all 36 states and the FCT, representatives of sister unions, officials of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), vice chancellors, provosts, registrars, bursars, governing council members, labour leaders and other stakeholders.