The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government, urging it to address the union’s grievances or face a shutdown of polytechnics across the country. The ultimatum, which takes effect from Monday, October 7, 2024, threatens industrial action if the demands are not met by the deadline.
ASUP also raised concerns over the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) allegedly overstepping its mandate by interfering in the admission process for Higher National Diploma (HND) programs, a function reserved for academic boards. The union vowed to resist such actions.
These issues, among others, were highlighted during a press conference following ASUP’s 111th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, where the union reviewed the current status of its negotiations with the proprietors of public polytechnics, colleges of technology, and monotechnics.
The union expressed particular concern over the alleged disregard for the Federal Polytechnics Act and other regulatory frameworks governing both federal and state-owned polytechnics, especially in the appointment of principal officers and general governance in the sector.
In a statement delivered by its President, Comrade Shamnah Kpanja, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) expressed frustration over the federal government’s failure to address its grievances, noting that all previous efforts to resolve the issues had been in vain.
Key issues highlighted by the union include the government’s refusal to review the suspended “Schemes of Service for Polytechnics” document, the non-release of the conditions of service, the delay in releasing the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention funds, and the alleged interference of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in the role of academic boards concerning Higher National Diploma (HND) admissions.
ASUP, in its resolution, stated “Following a review of the disposition of the government through the supervising ministry of education, the regulatory body and other agencies of government as well as the governing councils of some of the polytechnics to the issues outlined, the 111th NEC meeting of the Union rose with the following demands:
“Review and reversal of all decisions/ acts of impunity inconsistent with the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act and other instruments of governance in the sector
“Immediate commencement of the review process of the suspended document titled schemes of service for polytechnics 2023 as agreed in the tripartite meeting of July 2024.
“Release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention for public polytechnics and Colleges of Technology.
“Cessation of all acts purporting to undermine, duplicate or surrender the responsibilities of Academic Boards of Polytechnics in students’ admission processes to the NBTE as demonstrated by the recent launch of a students’ admission portal by the NBTE.
“Inclusion of the negotiated peculiar academic allowance in the budget against post IPPIS payment scheme/template for members.
“Immediate implementation of the approved 25/35% salary review across all public polytechnics and the payment of the accrued arrears. Release and final resolution of the age long CONTISS 15 migration arrears for the lower cadre.
“Recommencement and completion of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement renegotiation process. Immediate release of the reviewed conditions of service.
“Immediate implementation of promotion in state owned institutions.
Release of outstanding promotion arrears in federal institutions and colleges of technology.
“Immediate commencement of the review process of the suspended document titled schemes of service for polytechnics 2023 as agreed in the tripartite meeting of July 2024.
“Release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention for public polytechnics and Colleges of Technology.
“Cessation of all acts purporting to undermine, duplicate or surrender the responsibilities of Academic Boards of Polytechnics in students’ admission processes to the NBTE as demonstrated by the recent launch of a students’ admission portal by the NBTE.
“Inclusion of the negotiated peculiar academic allowance in the budget against post IPPIS payment scheme/template for members.
“Immediate implementation of the approved 25/35% salary review across all public polytechnics and the payment of the accrued arrears. Release and final resolution of the age long CONTISS 15 migration arrears for the lower cadre.
“Recommencement and completion of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement renegotiation process. Immediate release of the reviewed conditions of service.
“Immediate implementation of promotion in state owned institutions.
Release of outstanding promotion arrears in federal institutions and colleges of technology.
