The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has asked its members to commence a two-week strike beginning from Monday, May 16.
The union said the decision followed
the alleged failure of the Federal Government to meet its demands as contained in the Memorandum of Action signed last year.
ASUP took the decision during an emergency National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to the academic union, the Federal Government has failed to release the agreed N15 billion revitalisation funds and pay arrears of the national minimum wage among others.
Noting that nine months after the suspension of its industrial action last year and six months after the expiration of the three-month period of suspension, the government was yet to meet some of the demands as contained in the MoA signed before the suspension of the strike, ASUP during its 102nd meeting in Federal Polytechnic Mubi, said it has no other option than embark on strike to register their grievances.
Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions are all on strike.
Also note that the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has also given the government a 21- day ultimatum to address its demands.
The President of ASUP, Anderson Ezeibe, told reporters in Abuja in Wednesday: “Following exhaustive deliberations, on the update as outlined above, the emergency meeting of the Union’s National Executive Council has resolved that members should withdraw their services in a two weeks industrial action with effect from Monday, 16th of May 2022.”
ASUP is unhappy over the non release of the approved revitalisation N15bn fund for the sector; Non release of arrears of the new minimum wage; non release of the reviewed normative instruments for institution/management and programs accreditation and sustained infractions in implementation of the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act as amended in 2019.
Others are: delay in the appointment of rectors; non release of arrears of CONTISS 15 Migration for the Lower Cadre; non release of the scheme of service for Polytechnics; continued Victimisation of Union Officers and continued arm twisting of members in Colleges of Agriculture by the Agricultural Research Council of Nigeria.
