Strike: Poly lecturers give FG 15-day ultimatum over unresolved demands

Polytechnic lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) have issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address various longstanding issues affecting the polytechnic sector.

The ultimatum, which begins from October 7 to October 22, 2024, could lead to industrial action as the union has placed its members across the country on red alert.

ASUP National President, Shammah Kpanja, made this known while speaking to newsmen after the end of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Thursday, October 3, 2024.

Kpanja said the state chapters of ASUP have been directed to stage peaceful protests and embark on media campaigns within the period of the issued ultimatum.

According to him, the union reviewed ongoing discussions with the proprietors of public polytechnics, including both federal and state institutions, during the NEC meeting.

The ASUP President said: “Following a review of the disposition of the government through the supervising ministry of education, the regulatory body and other agencies of government as well as the governing councils of some of the polytechnics to the issues outlined, the 111th NEC meeting of the union rose with the following demands:

“Review and reversal of all decisions/acts of impunity inconsistent with the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act and other instruments of governance in the sector.

“Immediate commencement of the review process of the suspended document titled Schemes of Service for Polytechnics 2023 as agreed in the tripartite meeting of July 2024.

“Release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention for public polytechnics and Colleges of Technology.

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“Cessation of all acts purporting to undermine, duplicate or surrender the responsibilities of Academic Boards of Polytechnics in students’ admission processes to the NBTE as demonstrated by the recent launch of a students’ admission portal by the NBTE.

“Inclusion of the negotiated peculiar academic allowance in the budget against post IPPIS payment scheme/template for members.

“Immediate implementation of the approved 25/35 per cent salary review across all public polytechnics and the payment of the accrued arrears.

“Release and final resolution of the age-long CONTISS 15 migration arrears for the lower cadre. Recommencement and completion of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement renegotiation process.

“Immediate release of the reviewed conditions of service. Immediate implementation of promotion in state-owned institutions.

“Release of outstanding promotion arrears in federal institutions and colleges of technology.

“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.

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“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 days period shall be explored by the government to address the issues and save the sector from an imminent shutdown.”