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Oladipo Abiola
Guest
Polytechnic lecturers, under the auspices of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) have issued a two-week ultimatum to the Federal Government over some unmet demands.
The union said lecturers would go on strike if the government fails to meet their demands at the expiration of the ultimatum.
The position of the lecturers was made known by ASUP President, Shammah Kpanja, on Thursday, after the Union’s 111th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
He stated that the ultimatum would commence on 7th October and elapse on 25th October 2024.
Kpanja said ASUP had no choice but to issue the ultimatum after reviewing the current status of public polytechnics, colleges of technology, and monotechnics in the country.
Naija News understands the demands of the union include alleged impunity and disrespect of clear provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act, different edicts establishing state-owned institutions, and other instruments of governance in the sector.
He also decried the political interference in the appointment of principal officers in Federal and State-Owned Polytechnics as well as other items of governance in polytechnics.
The union also criticized the non-release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention funds.
According to the ASUP boss, the alleged intrusion of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) into the regular functions of the Academic Boards of Polytechnics in the admission of Higher National Diploma students in the Nigerian Polytechnic System was wrong.
Kpanja also listed other grievances to include the non-capturing of the peculiar academic allowance of members in the budget for sustained payment in the planned post-IPPIS era, coupled with the refusal of state-owned polytechnics to implement the 35/25% salary review for members and the non-release of the arrears of the same in Federal Polytechnics.
He also voiced their dissatisfaction with the issues surrounding the non-release/resolution of the owed CONTISS 15 Migration arrears to members in the lower cadre and the exclusion of ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement renegotiation process.
Kpanja said if the government fails to meet their demands by the time the ultimatum expires, the union members would proceed on strike.
His words: “Following the above-listed demands and pursuant to our resolve to continue to advocate for a functional polytechnic education system in the country, our union hereby issues a 15-day ultimatum as required by law, commencing from 7th October 2024, to proprietors of public polytechnics for these items to be addressed or face different forms of trade dispute declaration, including a possible withdrawal of service of members of our union across the country.
“At the expiration of the 15-day ultimatum, the union’s NEC will reconvene to decide a specific and legitimate course and design of action to address the issues listed.
“Zones and chapters of the union are to prepare members for necessary action within the 15-day ultimatum through congresses, peaceful protests, and media campaigns on the issues.
“It is our hope that the 15-day period shall be utilized by the government to address the issues and save the sector from an imminent shutdown.”
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