The indefinite strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics on Tuesday has paralysed academic activities in polytechnics across the country.
ASUP embarked on the action following the failure of the government to address the deplorable state of polytechnics and monotechnics and the expiration of the ultimatum issued since March 2020.
The action is coming less than a week after resident doctors embarked on a nationwide strike over non-payment of allowances and other issues.
ASUP National President, Anderson Ezeibe, while announcing the commencement of the strike at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, said academic activities had been shut shown in all polytechnics and associated institutions nationwide with effect from 12am on April 6.
Ezeibe said the union’s communication of its demands to the ministries of education, labour and others as well as to state governors, no action was taken to address them until the expiration of the ultimatum.
The ASUP president said its members’ grievances include non-implementation of 2014 NEEDS Report and non-release of revitalization fund to the sector despite assurances since 2017.
Ezeibe said, “Our grievances also include the non-reconstitution of governing councils in federal polytechnics and many state-owned institutions leading to the disruption of governance and administrative processes in the institutions since May, 2020.
“This has also undermined the renegotiation of the union’s 2010 agreement with the government which was unilaterally suspended by the government for over two years now.”
