ASUP Set To Embark On Strike  Gives 21-Day Ultimatum

By Akinwale Kasali

Following the failure of the Federal Government to meet the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, the Union has given a 21-Day ultimatum to address the underlying issues or it would embark on a nationwide strike.

The Union is lamenting the failure of the FG in  establishing a National Polytechnics Commission — a dedicated regulatory body akin to those overseeing Universities and Colleges of education.

Expressing its frustration over the continued delay in the legislative process to establish the Commission, ASUP said it would disrupt academic activities by embarking on a nationwide strike.

ASUP President, Shammah Kpanja, urged the Federal Ministry of Education to fast-track the transmission of the executive bill to the National Assembly, as he further criticised the continued reliance on external consultants for accreditation exercises in Polytechnics, raising concerns about the competence and background of some of those engaged for the task.

The Union reiterated its long-standing demand to “end the disparity in the treatment of Higher National Diploma holders compared to University degree holders, saying the persistent discrimination demoralises Polytechnic Graduates and hinders sectoral growth.”

Decrying the economic hardship facing Polytechnic Lecturers and the  failure of the Government to fully implement provisions of the 2010 ASUP-FGN agreement, including the payment of the Peculiar Academic Allowance and the complete rollout of the 25–35% salary review, Kpanja stated that it remains unimplemented despite being captured in the national budget.

ASUP also noted that the situation is worse in state-owned Polytechnics, where the new N70,000 national minimum wage is yet to be implemented in many states. It also expressed displeasure over the delay in releasing the second tranche of the approved NEEDS Assessment intervention fund, adding that no review has been conducted on how the first tranche was utilised.

The Union called for “reforms in the current quality assurance model for polytechnics, advocating a more transparent and professionally managed process to safeguard educational standards.”

ASUP further stressed the need “to reconvene negotiations on the 2010 ASUP-FGN agreement, particularly on unresolved issues such as the payment of CONTISS 15 arrears and promotion arrears, some dating back to 2014 and 2019, respectively.”

Highlighting what it described as a lack of progress on multiple fronts, the ASUP National Executive Council resolved to issue a 21-day ultimatum to the government.

“The Union may be compelled to declare a trade dispute and withdraw services across public Polytechnics and Monotechnics nationwide should these issues remain unresolved,” ASUP warned.