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Richard Ogunsile
Guest
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) may embark on an industrial strike soon following the end of the 15-day deadline set for the Federal Government to fulfill its demands.
Naija News understands that ASUP had warned of a potential strike if the government does not resolve the contentious new service scheme for polytechnic lecturers nationwide and had set October 23 as deadline for positive response from the government.
As the expiration of the ultimatum ends today, an increasing number of lecturers have reportedly supported the ASUP National Executive Council’s decision to mobilize members for a withdrawal of services once the deadline passes.
Dr. Iloma Richard, the ASUP Zone D Coordinator, informed newsmen in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the government has not yet addressed the pressing issues related to the new guidelines.
Richard noted that ASUP had previously suspended its planned industrial action on July 22, following the Federal Government’s intervention, which directed the National Board for Technical Education to reassess the disputed guidelines.
“The strike was suspended to create the necessary environment for the speedy resolution of all contentious issues through the stakeholders’ engagement process.
“Regrettably, as I speak, no progress has been made in this direction due to the obvious reluctance of NBTE.
“The union has also noted, with regret, a similar attitude of the government towards other welfare needs of the union’s members,” he said.
The union leader highlighted the alleged disregard for quality control in polytechnic education, warning that, if allowed to persist, it would lead to the collapse of technical and vocational education in the country.
According to him, polytechnic lecturers in Zone D, comprising the South-South and South-East states, would withdraw their services once ASUP’s NEC issues such a directive.
“This position has been articulated by our national leadership and formally communicated to all relevant authorities, with a subsisting 15-day ultimatum effective from Oct. 8.
“We shall not hesitate to swiftly mobilize our members from all chapters in the zone if, upon the expiration of the ultimatum, NEC directs any form of industrial action,” Richard added.
The contentious aspects of the new scheme encompass the postponed engagement of stakeholders in the service scheme and the failure to release the stakeholders-validated Condition of Service for polytechnics.
Further issues include the discrepancies in the provisions of the Federal Polytechnic Act and the legislation governing state-owned institutions, particularly regarding the appointment of Principal Officers.
Moreover, there are concerns regarding the delayed execution of a 35 percent and 25 percent salary review for state-owned polytechnics, in addition to the disbursement of arrears for federal polytechnics.
ASUP has also called for the release of a second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention fund and the prompt inclusion of members’ specific academic allowances, among other matters.
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