ASUP Begin Warning Strike.
Lecturers in Nigerian polytechnics, under the auspices of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), commenced a one-week industrial action today Monday, January 30th, to protest Federal Government’s failure to honour its agreement with the union and fund the polytechnic sector.
In a statement released after an emergency National Executive Council meeting of the union in Abuja, the ASUP President, Usman Yusuf Dutse, said the union’s one month ultimatum to government expired in December 2016 without any visible sign of government willingness to meet the demands of the union.
He said despite the magnanimity of the union, the government failed to address the issues raised by the union, which include the non implementation of the NEEDS assessment reports, poor funding of public polytechnics, deliberate attempt to frustrate the resolution of the meeting of the council on establishment in July 2016 and victimisation of union members as well as interference in union activities.
Other issues include Non release of CONTISS 15 migration arrears, non release of visitation panel reports of federal polytechnic as well as non release of ministerial panel to federal polytechnic a in Auchi, Oko, Yaba and Ado Ekiti, delay in the review of the federal polytechnic act, non commencement of renegotiation of ASUP/government agreement of 2010 and government’s tardiness in the appointment of Rectors of Federal polytechnics.
The union leader said that there was no attempt by the government to improve the funding of public polytechnics in the country as the 2017 budget currently before the National Assembly does not have any provision to that effect.
He added that all these left them with no choice than to embark on a warning strike.
