No turning back – Polytechnique professors insist on launching a warning strike

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has insisted on its plan to launch a week-long warning strike from December 2, 2024.

Kpanja ShammahPresident of ASUP, stated this while addressing newsmen at the end of his 112th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, Thursday in Abuja.

Shammah said the Federal Government was yet to implement the 11 elements of the agreements reached with ASUP.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that ASUP had issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and other relevant agencies.

The ultimatum was for them to immediately review and reverse all decisions inconsistent with the provisions of the Polytechnics Act and other sub-sector governance instruments.

The union had also denounced problems of impunity and non-compliance with clear provisions of the law, various decrees creating public institutions and other instruments of governance.

According to Shammah, to date we can only attest to the resolution of point number four while point number two is in progress. No tangible effort is made to resolve the other points.

“To make matters worse, the beneficiary of the fundamentally flawed rectorship appointment process of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede is currently on a mission to destroy the union within the institution.

“Following these developments, the union has decided to withdraw the services of its members nationwide with effect from December 2, after two weeks of permanent strike action in the first place,” he said.

He said the strike would serve as a warning to the government to resolve the listed issues or face liability for indefinite action in the future.

The ASUP president, however, listed their grievances including persistent reports of impunity and non-compliance with clear provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act, as well as various decrees establishing public institutions.

He also cited the appointment of a rector of the Federal Polytechnic School of Wannune without respecting due process.

He added that others were the non-revision of the controversial and suspended document titled “Service Schemes for Polytechnics” and the non-release of intervention funds for the assessment of NEEDS for 2023, among others.

He called for public understanding and support, adding that the union was compelled, once again, to fight for the soul of Nigeria’s polytechnic system through industrial action.

“We hope that the government will work to meet the union’s demands to create a healthy teaching and learning environment to avoid an indefinite closure of the sector.”