……After 21 Days Ultimatum
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has said the union will not hesitate to declare a trade dispute and withdrawal of services of all members across public polytechnics and monotechnics nationwide if the Federal Ministry of Education continue to show non-committal disposition to genuine dialogue and lack of will to execute previous resolutions between the government and the union.
This was stated by ASUP President, Comrade Shammah Kpanja at a press briefing held after the congress of Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), Lagos Chapter of the Union on Thursday.
The President represented by the ASUP Chairman, Yabatech Chapter, Comrade Monday Ojo explained that the National Executive Council (NEC) after extensive deliberations on the disturbing developments in Nigeria’s Polytechnic Education sector had earlier this month issued a 21 days ultimatum to the Federal Government and will not hesitate to call for nationwide strike if government did not address the issues satisfactorily.
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He listed the key areas where the Union wants the government to act on immediately to include: non-release of circular by The National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) to cover the Peculiar Academic Allowance.
“The Peculiar Academic allowance paid to academic staff across Polytechnics is a component of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement. However, its sustenance is being threatened by the non-release of the requisite circular by the NSIWC to enable budgetary provisions in this regard.
Currently, the allowance has been removed from the budgeting template and the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) has failed to intervene in definite terms on this subject.”
Others, he said, are non-release of arrears of the 25/35% salary review and non-implementation of same in state owned polytechnics; delay in granting a dual mandate structure for polytechnics; non-release of second round of NEEDS ASSESSMENT Intervention; policy on outsourcing of quality assurance activities in polytechnics; refusal to implement sectoral components on the approved road map of the FME as it affects setting up a dedicated commission for the sector and non-release of promotion arrears/non-implementation of promotion in many state owned institutions.
“Also, renegotiation of ASUP/FGN 2010 Agreement; refusal to domesticate of relevant portions of the Federal Polytechnics Act by state owned polytechnics; sustained dichotomy against HND holders in the Public Service; Stalled discussions on the release of CONTISS 15 Arrears; militarization of campus and undue continued intrusion in the activities of ASUP in Federal Polytechnic Nekede and refusal to convene the FME/ASUP rapid response meetings.
He explained that the continued delay and non-approval of a dual mandate structure aimed at eliminating the age long discrimination against HND holders has continued to facilitate discrimination against polytechnic education and her products.
“This unnecessary discrimination and dehumanization against holders of HND is driven by deliberate policies of the government. Bills passed by the national assembly in an effort to eradicate this scourge have not been signed by the President.
“Also Our Union had raised concerns against the FME approved policy of outsourcing quality assurance activities in Nigeria’s Polytechnics pointing to ethical, economic, convention and moral defects in the policy,” he stated.
Comrade Ojo reiterated that a failure to utilize the 21 days ultimatum window by the federal government to resolve the key listed interest of the Union may lead to the declaration of a trade dispute and withdrawal of services of their members across public polytechnics and monotechnics nationwide.
Zone C Coordinator of ASUP, Comrade Masopa Adekunle Nurudeen, who was presented at the congress reiterated the commitment of the leadership of the Union to be all out in matter that concerns members of the Union.
He admonished members of the chapter to support ASUP National Executive Council in its quest to work on issues affecting members of the Union for the benefit of all.
BV.
