Polytechnic Lecturers Warn Of Imminent Strike, Demand Urgent FG Intervention

Polytechnic Lecturers Warn Of Imminent Strike, Demand Urgent FG Intervention

Polytechnic lecturers, under the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), have issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government to address their unmet demands or face a strike……CONTINUE READING 

ASUP President Shammah Kpanja announced the ultimatum on Thursday, following the Union’s 111th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja. The ultimatum is set to begin on October 7 and end on October 25, 2024.

Kpanja explained that ASUP was forced to issue the ultimatum after reviewing the state of public polytechnics, colleges of technology, and monotechnics in Nigeria. Among the union’s demands are issues related to impunity and violations of the Federal Polytechnics Act, as well as the edicts governing state-owned institutions and other governance frameworks in the sector.

The union also criticized political interference in the appointment of key officers in federal and state polytechnics, as well as the government’s failure to release the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention funds.

Another concern raised by ASUP is the involvement of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in the admission process for Higher National Diploma students, which the union sees as an overreach into the duties of Polytechnic Academic Boards.

Additionally, Kpanja highlighted grievances such as the exclusion of the union’s members’ peculiar academic allowances from the national budget for sustained payment, the refusal of state polytechnics to implement the agreed 35/25% salary review, and the unresolved arrears of the same in federal polytechnics.

The union also expressed dissatisfaction with the non-resolution of CONTISS 15 Migration arrears for members in lower cadres and the lack of progress in renegotiating the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement.

“If these demands are not met by the end of the ultimatum, we will have no choice but to proceed with strike action,” Kpanja warned. He added, “The 15-day ultimatum, starting on October 7, 2024, serves as a final call to the proprietors of public polytechnics to address these issues. Failure to do so will result in various forms of trade disputes, including a possible withdrawal of service across the country.”

He urged the government to use the remaining time to resolve these issues and prevent an imminent shutdown of the sector.

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