ASUP gears up for strike as deadline expires
As the 15-day ultimatum issued by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) reaches its deadline for October 23, the organisation is gearing up for a potential strike.
The union has expressed its intention to initiate a strike if the government does not promptly address the controversial new scheme of service for polytechnic lecturers nationwide.
As the deadline approaches, an increasing number of lecturers have rallied behind the ASUP National Executive Council’s (NEC) decision to prepare for a withdrawal of services once the ultimatum concludes.
Dr. Iloma Richard, Coordinator of ASUP Zone D, informed the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the government has yet to resolve the pressing issues surrounding the new guidelines.
READ ALSO: ASUP threatens strike over failure to implement agreements
He noted that ASUP had previously postponed its planned strike on July 22, following government intervention that tasked the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) with reviewing the disputed guidelines.
“The strike was suspended to create the necessary environment for the speedy resolution of all contentious issues through the stakeholders engagement process.
“Regrettably, as I speak, no progress has been made in this direction due to the obvious reluctance of NBTE.
“The union has also noted, with regret, a similar attitude of the government towards other welfare needs of the union’s members,” he said.
The union leader highlighted the alleged disregard for quality control in polytechnic education, warning that, if allowed to persist, it would lead to the collapse of technical and vocational education in the country.
According to him, polytechnic lecturers in Zone D, comprising the South-South and South-East states, would withdraw their services once ASUP’s NEC issues such a directive.
“This position has been articulated by our national leadership and formally communicated to all relevant authorities, with a subsisting 15-day ultimatum effective from Oct. 8.
“We shall not hesitate to swiftly mobilise our members from all chapters in the zone if, upon the expiration of the ultimatum, NEC directs any form of industrial action,” Richard added.
NAN reports that the contentious issues in the new scheme include the delayed stakeholders’ engagement on the scheme of service and the non-release of the stakeholders-validated Condition of Service for polytechnics.
Other issues include the inconsistent provisions of the Federal Polytechnic Act and the Laws establishing state-owned institutions, particularly concerning the appointment of Principal Officers.
Additionally, concerns were raised over the delayed implementation of a 35 per cent and 25 per cent salary review for state-owned polytechnics, as well as the release of arrears for federal polytechnics.
ASUP also demanded the release of a second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention fund and the immediate capture of members’ peculiar academic allowance, among other issues.
Proofreading by Fa’izatu Aliyu Doma, Journalist at Neptune Prime.
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