KEY POINTS

• ASUP declares two weeks strike over unresolved governance and welfare issues, beginning December 2.
• These include the appointment of rectors after due process and revision of pay for members.
• An indefinite strike could result if key issues going unresolved by government.

Starting December 2, 2024, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) will go on a two week warning strike.

It comes after the union rejected the government’s attempts to secure their key demands. The most urgent cases include the improper appointment of a rector at the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State, in contravention of the Federal Polytechnics Act.

According to ASUP President, Kpanja Shamnah, who made the announcement during a press briefing in Abuja during the union’s 112th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in the Nigerian capital.

He said the strike was prompted by a 15 day ultimatum issued to the federal government and relevant agencies over the strike, which expired without a meaningful resolution.

Issues behind pending strike

ASUP’s demands are as follows: issues of governance relating to the sector and the welfare of its members. These include:

– Governance Failures:One is ASUP’s objections to improper appointment of a rector at Federal Polytechnic, Nekede and the like at other polytechnics which contradict both the Federal Polytechnics Act and the governance guidelines of other polytechnics.

– Welfare Concerns: The protest in this respect is due to the non release of 2023 NEEDS Assessment intervention funds; refusal of state polytechnics to implement salary reviews and the failure to implement the peculiar academic allowance for polytechnic lecturers.

– Operational Interference: The Union has also condemned the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for their unprecedented interference in the regular functions of polytechnic academic boards in what the Union sees as the admission of Higher National Diploma (HND) students.

Shamnah said the issues persist despite several attempts to involve the government and the union now has no option but to proceed with the strike.

The demands are set to be met by a potentially indefinite action if the government does not respond to this warning strike.

Union’s demand’s and federal government response

ASUP has raised these demands repeatedly over the past quarter century, but the government has largely ignored them.

Also among the critical issues, is the non review of the “Schemes of Service for Polytechnics” to determine employment conditions.

In addition, the union has voiced annoyance about the reluctance of most state polytechnics to implement the agreed salary review, having negative financial implications on the members.

ASUP has however now decided to take more direct action to get the response of the government.

Warning that this is a two week warning strike, it would serve as a wake up call to the authorities to attend to the matter or face an indefinite strike, Shamnah said. But the union said it is ready to escalate action unless there is progress.