ASUP ISSUES 15-DAY ULTIMATUM TO FG OVER UNMET DEMANDS

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The government was criticized on Monday by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Zone C, which includes Kwara State and the South-West, for keeping quiet about the 15-day strike ultimatum that was issued last week to address some of the problems afflicting polytechnic education in the nation.

The National Board for Technical Education’s alleged excessive use of its supervisory authority and meddling in student admissions to the nation’s polytechnics were denounced by ASUP leadership.

The union asked its members to prepare for the fight that would ensue if the government did not comply with its demands once the October 7 deadline of 15 days had passed.

Comrade Adekunle Masopa, the ASUP Coordinator for Zone C, said this during a news conference at Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic in Ijebu, Igbo.

Masopa claimed that it was unjust for the government to remain silent since the union gave the ultimatum last week, stating that the lecturers would not be held accountable if they chose to go on strike after the ultimatum expired.

The government’s lack of support for polytechnic education, which has the mandate and potential to propel the nation’s technological advancement, was criticized by the zonal coordinator, who said that the union would not stand by and watch this vital area of our country’s development fall apart.

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According to him, the National Board for Technical Education’s noncompliance with resolutions reached in July 2024 between NBTE and ASUP regarding the controversially reviewed scheme of service, its excessive oversight role, and its usurpation of the authority granted to the Academic Board of various institutions with regard to student admission to Higher National Diploma programs are among the issues that the unions are concerned about.

Additional issues include the Federal Polytechnics’ failure to pay promotion arrears that span three to five years, the state polytechnics’ repeated delays in implementing promotions, the non-implementation of the 25/35% consequential salary adjustment that goes into effect in January 2023 (the Southwest and Kwara States have not yet done so), and the federal government’s one-year arrears from January to December 2023, among other things.

Masopa said that to avert this looming strike “The government must resume active duty and commitment to the resolutions of the tripartite meeting held in July 2024 on 2023 reviewed scheme of service.

“There must be immediate implementation of the 25/35 per cent consequential salary adjustment in state polytechnics from January 2023 as well as payment of the one-year arrears of this salary adjustment to Federal institutions without further delay.

“ASUP requests NBTE to desist from usurping the power of statutory bodies, particularly the Academic Board, with respect to admission of students at any level. Immediate payment of all outstanding promotion arrears.”

The union also wants the Oyo State government to establish governing councils for its polytechnics, pay all outstanding promotion arrears, pay CONTISS 15 migration arrears that are allegedly owed for ten years, distribute 2023 NEEDS Assessment intervention funds, and ask NBTE to stop interfering needlessly with student admissions, among other demands.

Masopa revealed that the union should start alerting its members to the impending strike in accordance with the ASUP NEC’s decision.

He said that “in the interest of peace and harmony, the union calls on the government to urgently address all these issues within the 15 days ultimatum as resolved by the NEC of our union at its 111th meeting to avoid further union actions.”

The meeting was attended by the chairs of the Southwest and Kwara States’ federal and state-owned polytechnics.