ASUP threatens strike over delayed salaries in federal polytechnics  

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued a stern warning to the federal government over continued delays in salary payments, threatening to embark on a nationwide strike if the issue is not urgently addressed.

In a statement released on Sunday, ASUP President Shammah Kpanja described the delayed payments as “mental torture” inflicted on staff of federal polytechnics, blaming the situation on the transition from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS).

Kpanja noted that the hardship began eight months ago, when tertiary institutions were migrated to the GIFMIS platform. Despite repeated complaints, he said, salary disbursements remain irregular and unpredictable.

“Our union has observed a disturbing trend in the delay of staff salaries across federal tertiary institutions over the past eight months,” Kpanja said. “This coincided with the transition from IPPIS to GIFMIS, yet the government has failed to ensure a seamless process despite both platforms being overseen by the Office of the Accountant General.”

He accused the government of failing in its contractual obligations to staff, saying many workers have been plunged into debt and forced into a cycle of hardship as a result of the inconsistencies.

Kpanja warned that unless the June 2025 salaries are paid without delay and the payment process is stabilized moving forward, the union would instruct its members to stay away from work across affected institutions.

“This call is made in the interest of preserving the fragile industrial peace within the tertiary education sector. No union will sit back while its members suffer continued economic abuse,” he said. “If no improvement is seen in the coming days, our members will be directed to withdraw their services until all outstanding payments are made, and this pattern will be sustained monthly if the delays persist.”

The ASUP president further criticized the government for devaluing the education sector, accusing political leaders of prioritizing personal ambition over national development.

“It is disgraceful that while academic workers suffer, political leaders indulge in extravagance and focus solely on electioneering,” he added. “Eight months is too long a transition period for any payment platform. This situation reflects a government that places little value on education and those who deliver it.”

Kpanja condemned the treatment of academic staff, saying they have effectively been reduced to beggars, using their already meagre and delayed salaries to service debts.

He concluded by urging the government to act swiftly and responsibly, stressing that the continued neglect of the education sector could lead to wider instability and long-term national decline.