Polytechnic Lecturers Strike: We will Likely Resume Work To Review Progress After 14 Days- ASUP President
The National President of Asup, Dr. Anderson Ezeibe has said
that there is a possibility that the union will resume work after the end of
the 14 days in which the union went on strike. It will be recalled that the
Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics embarked on a warning strike expected to
last from the 16th of May 2022 to the 30th of May 2022.
While announcing the
strike, Dr. Ezeibe stated that the union locked up the polytechnics to demand
the revitalization funds which the government promised them but has failed to
pay any dime from it. Therefore, the strike provides an opportunity to renegotiate
their minimum wage and conditions of service.
He stated this as the
government has started paying the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and Academic
staff union of Universities their minimum wage arrears. According to Dr. Ezeibe, their resumption will open the way for the
National Executive council to meet and review the response of the government.
This meeting will also allow them to talk about the other issues and also more
importantly the revitalization funds promised to them by the government.
So what happens after the NEC meeting? Well, a further
directive on the strike will come after the meeting.
READ
ALSO – WHAT IS FG SAYING ABOUT THE ASSU STRIKE?
What Have The Negotiations
Yielded So Far
Dr.
Ezeibe stated that since the announcement of the two weeks strikes, they have
not relented in engaging the government in meaningful negotiations which according
to him have started yielded some positive results. He further explained that
among the many demands made to the government, they have recorded progress on
some issues like the ones bordering around the non-payment of salaries as well
as the review of normative instruments for institution/management and program
accreditation.
According to him,
the government has made its decision about 5 IMT officers that were dismissed
because of their involvement in Union and other Industrial matters. He said
that the government has started payment of the minimum wage arrears and added
that polytechnic staff in Abia state who the government owed 35 Months' salary
will soon be smiling to the bank.
Issues ASUP Has With
The Government At The Moment
·
Delay in appointing rectors for the Federal Polytechnic
Offa, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Federal polytechnic Ekowe, and Federal polytechnic.
·
Refusal to release arrears of the new minimum
wage for 10 months.
·
Refusal to release the 15 billion Revitalization
fund for the educational sector 11 months after President Muhgammadu Bahari approved.
·
Sustained infractions for the implementation of
the provisions of the Federal polytechnic act that was amended in 2019, for
example, the removal of the Rector of Auch polytechnic.
·
Struggle to renegotiate the conditions of
service.
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