ASUP Condemns Government's Nonchalance

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has condemned what it called the nonchalant attitude of the Federal Government in addressing the issues that led to the current strike action embarked upon by its members.

It made the condemnation during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting which held at the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State from 24th to 28th June, 2013, where it resolved that, "unless all the issues on the list of the Unions' demands are met, the ongoing strike will be sustained."

A press statement signed by the Union's National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Clement Chirman, says ASUP, "appreciates the understanding shown by students, parents and guardians over the on-going strike," while also calling on "other stakeholders to show similar understanding and work with the Union towards strengthening the polytechnic sector in Nigeria."

The striking lecturers also rejected the "discriminatory cut-off points for candidates seeking admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education," calling for harmonization of the cut-off points into all tertiary institutions in the country.

They demanded that polytechnic education be properly and adequately funded and called on government to stop paying lip-service to the technical education sector in the country.

They also condemned "the burden of dichotomy against polytechnic graduates at entry and in career progression in public service and called for a level-playing ground for graduates from the various tertiary sectors."

ASUP also called for an immediate downward review of the new Income Tax to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerian workers, just as it frowned at the dictatorial attitude of some rectors of polytechnics, calling on them to refrain from such acts.