The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has threatened to embark on strike if the Federal Government fails to meet its demands at the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum.
Innocent Simji, Zonal Coordinator of ASUP Zone B, stated during a press briefing in Bauchi on Friday that the union’s position aligned with the resolution of its national headquarters.
The ASUP ultimatum, issued after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on August 14 in Abuja, was due to the government’s failure to address pressing issues threatening the survival of the polytechnic sector.
“The Union at her last emergency National Executive Council meeting resolved to issue a 21-day ultimatum to the government to address some germane issues threatening the survival of the polytechnic sector,” Simji said.
He listed the outstanding issues as follows: the National Salaries, Incomes, and Wages Commission’s failure to release circulars covering special academic allowances, the failure to pay arrears on the 25/35 per cent salary review, and the failure to implement the review in state-owned polytechnics.
ASUU criticises FG over approval of new private universities
ASUU rejects Tinubu’s loan scheme for tertiary workers
Other examples include the delay in granting a dual mandate structure to eliminate the distinction between polytechnic and university graduates, the failure to release approved needs assessment funds for infrastructure, and the outsourcing of the National Board for Technical Education’s quality assurance mandate to unqualified vendors.
Other grievances, according to him, include the failure to establish a dedicated commission for polytechnics, the failure to release promotion arrears, the failure to implement promotions in state-owned polytechnics, the stalled renegotiation of the 2010 ASUP/FGN agreement, and some states’ refusal to domesticate the Federal Polytechnics Act.
He also condemned the ongoing discrimination against HND holders in public service, the failure to release CONTISS 15 arrears, campus militarisation, and undue involvement in union operations, particularly at the Federal Polytechnic Nekede.
“In view of these unresolved issues and the non-committal disposition of the Federal Ministry of Education to genuine dialogue, the Union’s NEC has resolved to issue a 21-day ultimatum.
“If nothing is done within this period, we will be forced to declare a trade dispute and withdraw the services of our members across all public polytechnics and monotechnics nationwide,” Simji warned.
