ASUP Set to Disrupt Academic Activities, April 22

Education Minister

ACADEMIC activities may again be disrupted in polytechnics as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, is to commence a seven-day warning strike from Monday, April 22.

The union in a communique at the end of an emergency National Executive Council meeting said the warning strike would be followed by an indefinite one if government fails to respond to their grievances at the end of the warning strike.

The communique which was made available to journalists in Jos, yesterday, and signed by ASUP's National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Clement Chairman, listed their grievances to include: non-constitution of governing councils for polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of technology; non-release of government white paper of the visitation panels to federal polytechnics and non-commencement of the needs assessment in the polytechnics.

It also listed what it called the worrisome states of the state government-owned polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of technology; appointment of unqualified persons as rectors and Provosts by some State Governments in their institutions and the failure of most state governments to implement the approved salary package, CONPCASS, and 65 year retirement age in their polytechnics.

ASUP expressed concern over the continued appointment of principal officers on acting positions in some polytechnics, mono-technics and colleges of technology beyond the approved periods and the insistence of the office of the Accountant General of the Federation to implement the IPPIS module in the polytechnic sector.

It frowned at the continued delay in the amendment of the Polytechnics' Act; the review of the polytechnics' scheme of service; and the non commencement of the re-negotiation of the Federal Government/ASUP agreement as contained in the signed agreement.

The communique said: "Having painstakingly examined these issues, and against the evident inaction of the Government despite the Union's consistent show of maturity through the adoption of the path of peace and dialogue, including the 21 day ultimatum issued on the March 25, 2013 which expired on the April 15, 2013, the NEC has accordingly resolved to embark on a seven-day warning strike with effect from April 22, 2013 and an indefinite strike action thereafter if the issues raised above are not satisfactorily addressed."