The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has threatened to embark on an industrial action across the country from April 6th.
Anderson U Ezeibe, ASUP President, at the end of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Council of the union at Hassan Usman Polytechnic, Katsina, told reporters that the industrial action was informed by six key factors affecting polytechnic Education and it’s meant to draw the attention of the government to the basic needs of the union.
ASUP decried the alleged “culture of neglect by the government on issues affecting the technological education sub sector.’’
The issues, according to him, include non-implementation of ASUP/FG agreement of 2010, non-payment of salaries and arrears of the new minimum wage in some state-owned Polytechnics, among others.
Other conditions under which the proposed April 6 industrial action may be called off include: implementation of the contents of the Needs Assessment Report of 2014 in public Polytechnics and like institutions, Reconstitute governing councils in all Federal Polytechnics and in state-owned Polytechnics where such is yet to be constituted.
” Release owed Staff salaries in Abia, Ogun, Osun, Benue, Plateau, Edo, and the Cross River States and implement full salary payments in Sokoto, Kaduna, Adamawa, and other institutions with such reports.
” Release of promotion arrears in Federal Polytechnics and payment of same as well as annual increments in Adamawa, Plateau, and other states with similar cases.
” Withdrawal of the letter containing spurious, incoherent, and unsubstantiated claims of PAYE tax liabilities in 19 Federal Polytechnics.
” Ensure full implementation of the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act as well as its domestication in Adamawa, Kano, Sokoto, Abia, Niger, and other states affected.
” Stop attempts at forcing the ASUP members in colleges of Agriculture out of the union.
” And lastly implement the 65 years retirement age for academic Staff in state-owned institutions like in Kano, Kaduna, and other state institutions in the country.”
