Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to implement agreements reached for improved Working Condition or face strike action.
According to the union, the 15-day period commenced on October 7, 2024 .
The National Executive Council, which issued on behalf of the Union expressed disappointment over Federal Government’s slow progress and seemingly indifferent approach in addressing the agreements.
Speaking during a press conference held ,the Chairman of ASUP, Comrade Abubakar J. Abdullahi,who briefed members of the Union on resolution reached during the Union’s 111th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on October 6, 2024 at Abuja,said at the expiration of the 15-day ultimatum, the Union’s NEC will reconvene to decide a specific and legitimate course and design a next line of action if these issues are not addresses by the Government.
However,the Union directed all its local chapters and all zones to prepare for protests, media campaigns, and other peaceful actions during this period while hoping that the Federal Government will utilize the 15-day window to address the issues and prevent a potential shutdown of all Polytechnics across the Nation.
The Chairman who disclosed that some of the agreements,which are dated to 2010 are intended to improve working conditions within the institutions; create a more conducive environment for teaching, learning, skill acquisitions and research, said, it is only after exhausting nearly all avenues for amicable resolution of the ongoing issues that the untimatum was issued.
Speaking further he stated ,”This decision is a direct result of a review of the Government’s response as indicated by the Ministry of Education, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the Governing Councils of various Polytechnics, and other agencies regarding the Union’s engagements.
“Specifically, the 111th NEC of our Union resolves to demand the following:
Immediate review and reversal of all decisions taken by the Government, or the NBTE or Governing Councils, those are inconsistent with the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act (Amended) 2019.
“The commencement, without further delay, of the review process of the suspended document titled “Schemes of Service for Polytechnic 2023” as agreed at the tripartite meeting between our Union, Ministry of Education, and the NBTE held on the July 19, 2024.
“The swift release of the Second Tranche of the NEEDS Assessment Intervention for public Polytechnics and College of Education.
“The cessation of all acts purposely to undermine, duplicate and surrender the responsibilities of the Academic Boards of Polytechnics in students’ admission process to NBTE.
“The inclusion of the negotiated Peculiar Academic Allowance in the Personnel Budget on the post-IPPIS payment template for our members.
The immediate implementation of the approved 25/35% Salary Review across all public Polytechnics and the payment of the accrued arrears.
“The release and final resolution of the decades-long CONTISS-15 migration arrears for the lower cadre.
The recommencement and completion of the ASUP versus Federal Government 2010 agreement renegotiation process.
The immediate release of the reviewed Condition of Service for the Polytechnic sector”.
He therefore called for Immediate implementation of promotion and payment of all accrued promotion arrears in state-Owned Institutions and release of outstanding promotion arrears in Federal Institutions and College of Education.
