The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has directed its members across Nigeria to withdraw all services in every polytechnic in the country for two weeks, starting from Monday, May 16, 2022.

ASUP President, Com. Anderson Ezeibe, gave the directive at the end of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) emergency meeting in Abuja on Wednesday.

“We are deploying this medium to equally appeal to members of the public to prevail on the government to do the needful within the 2 weeks period so as to avoid an indefinite shut down of the sector,” Ezeibe said.

Explaining the reason for the warning strike, the ASUP President stated: “Our union suspended its industrial action declared on the 6th of April 2021 on the 10th of June, 2021 following the signing of a Memorandum of Action (MoA) with the government.

“The signed MoA contained a clear path to sustainable resolution of the issues in dispute with time lines attached to each of the items in dispute.

“The suspension of the industrial action was for a period of three months and to enable the government conclude processes already initiated in the direction of fulfillment of the items in the MoA which are process led.

“Nine months after the suspension of the industrial action and six months after the expiration of the three-month period of suspension, our union’s NEC met in its 102 meeting in Federal Polytechnic Mubi and after reviewing the report of the implementation of the MoA, resolved to issue a 1 month ultimatum to the government effective 4th April, 2022 to address the outstanding items in the MOA and other emergent issues or face the reality of another trade dispute with our union.

“Our union’s ultimatum expired on the 4” of May, 2022 and as is the norm, the union’s NEC reconvened today, 11th of May, 2022 to review the response of the government to the ultimatum, particularly as it affects relevant agencies/functionaries of government.

“Within the period of the ultimatum, the union met with the National Board for Technical Education to review the grievances with a view to resolution. Another | meeting fixed at the instance of the Honourable Minister of Education (after the expiration of the ultimatum) failed to meet basic requirements for collective bargaining.

“Our union stayed away from the meeting as it was not structured to address the issues in dispute. The Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment only acknowledged receipt of the union’s ultimatum and made no attempts at conciliation.

“Spirited efforts were also made by the Chairman of Chairmen of Governing Councils of Polytechnics in Nigeria and some members of the National Assembly in the direction of a resolution.

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“The status of the items in dispute as at today is captured below: Non release of the approved revitalization fund for the sector: Approved N15bn yet to be released 11 months after approval by the President.

“Non release of arrears of the new minimum wage: The owed 10 months arrears for the Polytechnics is yet to be released. The composite amount covering all Federal Tertiary Institutions to the approximate figure of N19Bn currently exists as an AIE in the Accountant Generals Office.

“Non release of the reviewed normative instruments for institution/management and programs accreditation: The document is currently awaiting approval of the Management of NBTE. This document is expected to provide a framework to address non payment of salaries in state owned institutions, non compliance with approved retirement age, non deployment of approved salary structures, poor governance structure as well as other issues affecting standards particularly in state owned Polytechnics.”

Ezeibe added: “As a consequence, our members in Abia, Ogun, Edo, Benue, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Plateau and Osun states are owed salaries while they also continue to suffer from different levels of deprivation including non release of promotions and non deployment of appropriate retirement age.

“Such deprivations are also evident in Adamawa, Niger, Sokoto and Delta States where the government has resolved to disrupt the hitherto timely payment of salaries with a subvention styled funding regime.

He further listed the challenges of ASUP to include delay in the appointment of rectors, non-release of arrears of CONTISS 15 migration for the lower cadre, non release of the scheme of service for polytechnics, continued victimisation of union officers, amongst others.

The Star