ASUP Is Trying to Go on Strike
Polytechnic
lecturers may soon go on strike if the Nigerian government continues to ignore
their demands.
The Academic Staff Union of
Polytechnics (ASUP) says it will embark on an indefinite strike with effect
from Monday, November 13, unless the Federal Government pays its 2016
shortfalls and all outstanding arrears.
The National President of the
Union, Mr Usman Dutse gave the strike notice while briefing newsmen on the
outcome of ASUP National Executive Council Emergency meeting in Abuja on
Monday.
He said the union would sustain the
strike until the demands of the union are met, or an implementable memorandum
of action was agreed on.
"Our union is constrained to
lament that our sector is on the verge of collapse and needs all the emergency
attention it urgently deserves."
He said the union had engaged the
government on the poor state of the polytechnics, adding that government had
set up a committee that produced a report, but nothing was done about it.
He said that in 2014, 6.5 billion
Naira was earmarked to resuscitate the poor state of polytechnics but it was
reviewed to 8 billion Naira because of the prevailing economic realities.
According to him, no step had been
taken to release a dime to enhance the quality of the polytechnics system.
Dutse noted that the delay and
indifference to the passage of the bill was viewed as a ploy to fester chaos
and continued crises in the sector.
He said that in December 2015
members of the Union experienced shortfall due to cuts in personnel released,
saying that the government also withdrew allowance which was part of its
salaries.
"We are calling on the
government to fast-track the process so that our members can get their
salaries.
"We wish to remind the
government at all levels and Nigerians that we cannot be complacent in
strategic annihilation of the sector that feeds and caters for millions of
youths and families," he added.
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