November 29, (THEWILL) – The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has announced a two-week warning strike beginning on December 2, 2024, to protest the government’s failure to address critical issues affecting the sector.
ASUP President, Kpanja Shamnah, disclosed this during a press briefing after the union’s 112th National Executive Council meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
Shamnah highlighted several unresolved demands, including alleged irregularities in the appointment of principal officers, delays in the review of the “Schemes of Service for Polytechnics,” and the non-release of the 2023 NEEDS Assessment intervention funds.
“Our Union’s National Executive Council held its 112th session to review the current status of our engagements with proprietors of public polytechnics, colleges of technology, and mono-technics across the country,” Shamnah said.
He accused the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, and Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, of breaching established protocols in appointing rectors, describing the actions as “sordid displays of impunity.”
ASUP also decried what it termed the National Board for Technical Education’s unwarranted interference in the admission processes of Higher National Diploma students, as well as the non-implementation of salary reviews and peculiar academic allowances for its members.
“Following these developments and a thorough review by our Union’s 112th NEC meeting, the union resolved to withdraw the services of its members nationwide with effect from December 2, 2024, for a two-week definite strike action in the first instance,” he said.
The union warned that the government’s failure to address the listed issues during the warning strike would result in an indefinite strike.
The statement added, “The issues listed by our union include sustained reports of 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 particularly as it affects appointment of Principal Officers in Federal and State-Owned Polytechnics as well as other items of governance in Polytechnics.
“The sordid display of the Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, in the appointment process of a new Rector, and the appointment of a Rector in Federal Polytechnic, Wannune without following due process were cited as recent examples of these breaches.
“Non-review of the contentious and suspended document entitled Schemes of Service for Polytechnics, non-release of the NEEDS Assessment intervention funds for 2023.
“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.
“Non-capturing of the peculiar academic allowance of members for sustained payment in the planned post-IPPIS era; the refusal of most state-owned Polytechnics to implement the 35/25 percent salary review for members and non-release of the arrears of same in Federal Polytechnics among others.”
Shamnah urged the government to act swiftly to resolve the union’s demands, cautioning that the industrial action could escalate if the issues persist.
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