Student's Life

Honour all agreements or we go on strike in 15 days, polytechnic lecturers tell FG

Published

March 19, 2020

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics [ASUP] on Thursday gave Federal Government 15 days ultimatum for it to honour all pending agreements reached with it or risk industrial unrest on campuses.

Addressing newsmen after 97th National Executive Committee meeting held at Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, ASUP president, Anderson Ezeibe, said the decision to embark on strike without further warning unless the FG implement the agreement reached with it and meet its other demands was irreversible.

He also demanded urgent steps to rectify irregularities that accompanied the payment of February salary to its members through the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System [IPPIS].

According to him, victimisation of many ASUP officials that participated in the lawful struggle had continued unabated, adding that seven lecturers of the Institute of Management Technology, Enugu and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, had been dismissed for participating in union activities, while two others from Yaba College of Technology were suspended.

He said,

“The deliberate and gross abuse of the 2019 Federal Polytechnics Act as Amended by some Federal Polytechnics with tacit support of the representatives of NBTE and FME in such councils. Such activities present such institutions as lawless entities and is capable of breeding anarchy.

“Victimization of Union officials due to their participation in lawful struggles has continued, despite efforts of the Union and the regulatory agency. The union still has 5 of its officers dismissed in IMT Enugu; 2 dismissed in Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo; and 2 suspended in Yaba College of Technology.

“Based on the above which epitomises neglect, disregard and disrespect to the sector; coupled with the insincerity of Government in respecting signed agreements entered into with our union, the Union is hereby issuing a 15 day ultimatum to within which to resolve these pending issues affecting the sector or face Industrial action by our Union without the benefit of any other warning.”