ASUP Issues One-Month Ultimatum to Commence Strike.
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued a one month ultimatum to government for resumption of strike action.
Recall that The union had suspended its industrial action which ran for 61 days in June 2021 after reaching an agreement with the federal government
Speaking to journalists in Yola at the end of its 102nd National Executive Council meeting, ASUP’s national president, Anderson Uzeibe, said the decision became necessary after the government failed to implement important aspects of the memorandum of action signed with the union nine months ago.
According to Uzeibe, the government was yet to release the sum of N15 billion as the first part payment of the N800 billion revitalisation fund nine months after the approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Other issues include: “non payment of outstanding arrears of minimum wage, non release of reviewed normative instrument for institutions, management and accreditation, breach of the provisions of the Federal Polytechnic Act as amended in 2019 and delay in the appointment of rectors.”
Mr. Uzeibe warned that for as long as the government and other proprietors in the polytechnic system continue to violate laws and signed agreements, the union would not hesitate to take industrial action since it is the only way workers can pressurize to government stick to their agreement.
“Following exhaustive deliberation, the union’s National Executive Council has resolved to give the government a one month ultimatum to address the outstanding issues as listed or face a review of the suspended industrial action by our union,” he stated.
