The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to resolve issues affecting polytechnic education in Nigeria or face a nationwide strike.
The Chairman of ASUP at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Mr. Monday Ojo, announced this on Thursday in Lagos while speaking on behalf of the union’s national president, Mr. Shammah Kpanja.
Ojo explained that the decision followed an emergency National Executive Council meeting of the union in Abuja, where members expressed worry over what they described as “disturbing developments” threatening the stability of the polytechnic education sector.
He listed some of the unresolved issues to include the non-release of the circular on Peculiar Academic Allowance, unpaid arrears of the 25/35 per cent salary review, continued discrimination against HND holders, and the delay in the release of the second round of NEEDS Assessment intervention. The union also faulted the Federal Ministry of Education for outsourcing quality assurance activities in polytechnics.
Ojo further decried the failure of some state governments to implement the new minimum wage and accused the Federal Government of stalling the renegotiation of the ASUP/FGN 2010 Agreement. He said members were equally demotivated by unpaid promotion arrears, some dating back to 2019, describing the situation as unacceptable.
He condemned what he called unlawful disruption of union activities by security agents and expressed disappointment at the government’s inability to establish a dedicated Polytechnic Commission.
“If these issues remain unresolved after 21 days, we may have no option but to declare a trade dispute and withdraw our services nationwide,” Ojo warned.
Also speaking, Mr. Masopa Nurudeen, ASUP Zone C Coordinator, lamented that members were undergoing financial hardship due to poor salaries. According to him, many lecturers are forced to take up additional jobs to survive the present economic realities.
ASUP urged the government to act swiftly to avert another industrial crisis that could further destabilise the polytechnic education system.
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