Polytechnic Lecturers Threaten Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address issues, including continued delay in the re-negotiation of FGN/ASUP agreement, or risk a shutdown of all polytechnics in the country.

Giving the ultimatum in a communique at the end of the 73rd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, the union also decried what it described as delay in the review of the Polytechnic Act and non-release of government white paper on the visitation panel to polytechnics.

According to the communique, which was signed and issued in Jos yesterday by National Publicity Secretary of the union, Comrade Clement Chirman, the union also faulted non-implementation of the 65-year retirement age in some polytechnics and monotechnics, adding that the implementation of the reviewed scheme of service and CONTISS 15 as it affects the lower cadre were among the demands of the union.

The union also frowned at the "rising state of insecurity' in the nation, the presidential pardon for ex-convicts, the planned removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government, and the appointment of unqualified rectors for some state-owned institutions."

ASUP also called on government to direct management of various institutions to immediately re-instate wrongfully disengaged academic staff and to henceforth desist from such acts, demanding that bureaucratic bottlenecks and discrimination associated with accessing TEFfund's sponsorships and grants should be removed.

The union warned that failure to address the issues could result in serious industrial disharmony. The 21-day ultimatum, the statement indicated, started counting yesterday.