The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) in Cross River College of Health Technology, Calabar, has suspended its indefinite strike which began March 10 2020.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of ASUP, Mr Okon Ekpo, and SSANIP Chairman, Mr Effangha Archibong, on Friday, the unions said the strike was suspended on humanitarian grounds and took effect from April 16.

It would be recalled that The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports, that the unions had earlier embarked on an indefinite strike, over the suspension of its Consolidated Polytechnic and Colleges of Education and the state government’s structure of Academic Salary.

The unions, however, said suspending the strike was also necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic which had seriously ravaged cities in the country due to the devastating community transmission pattern of the spread of the disease.

“The suspension of the strike is to enable the college, which is a frontline public health institution in the state, to join efforts and resources with very honest and well-meaning people and institutions to sincerely contain the virus in the state.

“The community transmission pattern of spread of the COVID-19 requires honest, positive and evidence based action devoid of sentiments or propaganda. Since we are already better positioned and have been demonstrating such capacity, we cannot fold our arms and watch at this perilous time.

Upon resumption, the statement directed that the Environmental Health, Pharmaceutical, Science and Medical Laboratories as well as Cosmetics Production unit in the college be opened for the production of sanitisers and disinfectants for decontamination against COVID-19 in the state.

“The Fashion and Design unit of the centre for Entrepreneurial Studies of the College is to be opened immediately for the production of masks according to prescribed standard to complement government and private efforts.

“The academic community is to resume community development component of its core services as it relates to disease control and public health promotion and empowerment, considering the statewide coverage of members of the college community.

“We sincerely hope that the state government will reciprocate this magnanimous gesture by addressing the outstanding issues that led to the suspended strike”. it added.