The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address unresolved issues affecting the polytechnic education sector.
The Union warned that failure may result in industrial action that could disrupt academic activities nationwide.
ASUP President, Comrade Shammah Kpanja issued the ultimatum at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, calling on the Federal Ministry of Education to quickly send the executive bill on their demands to the National Assembly.
Kpanja also expressed concerns regarding the ongoing reliance on external consultants for accreditation processes in polytechnics, questioning the qualifications and backgrounds of some of the contractors involved.
Among the Union’s key demands is establishing a dedicated regulatory body, the National Polytechnics Commission, similar to those governing universities and colleges of education.
ASUP expressed disappointment over what it described as delays in the legislative process required to actualise the commission.
The Union also reiterated its long-standing concern over the disparity in the treatment of Higher National Diploma (HND) holders compared to university degree holders.
ASUP noted that this persistent discrimination undermines the morale of polytechnic graduates in the workforce and hampers the sector’s development.
He further lamented the economic hardship facing polytechnic lecturers and criticised the government’s delay in fulfilling commitments under the 2010 ASUP-FGN agreement.
According to him, these include the payment of the Peculiar Academic Allowance and the full implementation of the 25-35% salary review, which ASUP claims has not yet been effected despite being captured in the national budget.
The Union also cited the removal of specific allowances from the federal budget and what it described as inadequate follow-through from relevant agencies, including the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to ASUP, the situation is even more dire in state-owned polytechnics, where implementing the N70,000 national minimum wage is still pending in many states.
The Union also expressed dismay over the delay in releasing the second tranche of the approved NEEDS Assessment intervention fund, adding that a review of the utilisation of the first tranche has yet to be conducted.
ASUP also voiced concern over the government’s current polytechnic quality assurance model, calling for a more transparent and professionally managed process that ensures educational integrity and value.
The union emphasised the importance of reopening discussions on the 2010 ASUP-FGN agreement, particularly concerning longstanding issues like the payment of CONTISS 15 arrears and promotion arrears, with some claims reportedly going back to 2014 and 2019.
Noting what it perceived as insufficient progress on various matters, ASUP’s National Executive Council decided to give the federal government a 21-day ultimatum.
“The union may be compelled to declare a trade dispute and withdraw services across public polytechnics and monotechnics nationwide should these issues remain unresolved,” they warned.
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