…..Reiterates Union Resolve To Strike
As the 21 days ultimatum given to government and proprietors of public polytechnics and monotechnics in Nigeria by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), elapses this week, the Union has said the continued refusal of the Federal Government to resolve several issues affecting the sector may leave the union with no option than to declare trade dispute in all polytechnics and monotechnics in the country.
ASUP Zone C Coordinator, Comrade Nurudeen Masopa stated this at a press conference held during emergency meeting of the Zonal Executive Council at Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State on Wednesday.
The Union had at an emergency NEC meeting held on 14th August, 2025 given 21 days ultimatum to the federal government to resolve several issues affecting the sector and workers within the sector.
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According to him, the issues include unresolved documentation on Peculiar Academic Allowance which is one of the key components of ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement.
He explained further that the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission could not perfect documentation on this product of collective bargaining process by releasing the circular to enable capturing of the component in budgets of institutions within the sector. “At present, continuity on the payment of PAA cannot be guaranteed while frantic efforts made by our union is been frustrated as the Federal Ministry of Education fails to do the needful within their purview.
“Also compromise on the Quality Assurance exercise through Outsourcing of accreditation personnel. “The accreditation exercise is a key component of regulation to ascertain the level of compliance to regulatory provisions with respect to some quality assurance parameter in the three tiers of education in Nigeria.
He continued: “Our union is taken aback with the approval granted to NBTE by FME on outsourcing of accreditation personnel in polytechnics. This is outrightly alien as it is not the practice in the other subsectors of education. This will expose the accreditation exercise to unethical conduct and unwarranted economic burden on the institutions in the polytechnic sector.”
He said that other issues include, non-payment of Arrears of 25/35% Consequential Salary Adjustment / non-implementation of adjustment in state polytechnics; non-release of fund for the 2023 NEEDS ASSESSMENT Intervention; non- implementation of key components of the approved roadmap of FME on education; non-release of promotion arrears / non-implementation of promotion in state institutions and failure to domesticate the Federal Polytechnic Act (2019) by State Owned Polytechnic.
Masopa also mentioned the unresolved Dichotomy against HND holders in Public Service adding that despite the passage of Bill on removal of dichotomy by the National Assembly, the scourge of discrimination against Polytechnic graduates still persists. “We request the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to support the efforts of the National Assembly by signing the Bill into law.
“The Government has refused to pay the COPNTISS 15 arrears owed to members of union for more than decade. This suggests lack of commitment to workers welfare,” he added.
Also pointing to the stalled renegotiation of ASUP/FGN 2010 Agreement, Masopa said that the government has refused to reconstitute the committee to look into renegotiation of the agreement between the Union and FGN. The process of renegotiation is an agreement the government has persistently refused to honour after 15 years.
“The FME has over time refused to make efforts towards reconvening the FME/ASUP Rapid Response Committee meetings to effectively address issues bothering on industrial relations in the sector,” he added.
The Union also used the opportunity to call on the Oyo state government to announce the outcome of the selection process and appointment of the Principal Officers at Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa. “Our union hereby call on the state government to announce the appointment after 4 years of running the institution’s administration in acting capacity.”
On undue interference in Union operation by Managements of some institutions, the Zonal Coordinator said the conduct of the Governing Council and Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nekede in militarizing through deployment of armed security operatives to disrupt union activities is archaic, unconstitutional and unacceptable in any sane clime. “Our union hereby call on the government to caution the authorities of the institution on this act to ensure peaceful coexistence within the institution.
Masopa stated further that on the background of the issues highlighted and in furtherance to the resolution at the emergency NEC of the union held on 14th August, 2025 in Abuja, the Zonal Executive Council (ZONE C) hereby reiterate that the union will have no option than declaration of trade dispute and withdrawal of services of their members across chapters in public polytechnics and monotechnics in Nigeria.
The meeting had in attendance chairmen from various chapters of the zone which cut across South/West including Kwara State.
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