ASUP Suspends Industrial Action In Auchi Polytechnic

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) in Auchi Polytechnic says it has suspended the proposed industrial action over the new scheme of service.

The chapter chairman, Mr Bamidele Osamudiamen, stated this at an emergency congress of the union in Auchi yesterday.

He said the suspension was in accordance with the directive by the national body of the union.

He said the decision was taken by the national body followed an agreement by the federal government to suspend the implementation of the new scheme of service that the union had found wanting.

It would be recalled that the Auchi Polytechnic chapter of ASUP had given a 15-day ultimatum for the government to suspend the scheme of service.

The chapter also embarked on a series of protests to register this displeasure over the contentious document.

Osamudiamen had condemned the document for promoting what he described as discriminatory practices favouring university degree holders over HND holders in the country.

He said; “The unfair career progression guide in the sector particularly as it affects the teaching and non-teaching staff cadres is a recipe for crises as such is not reflective of the remuneration accruing to the cadres.

“The contentious document curiously, unjustifiably and unacceptably elongates the career progression steps of the Lecturer cadre from a 7 step to a 9 step career development cadre and at the same time added an extra year for promotion to the final two levels.

“This implies that anyone on the lecturer cadre will now endure a minimum of 26  years from the base to the highest level.

“This is not acceptable particularly in view of the fact that this deviates from the norm in other subsectors and that the retirement age in the sector remains unchanged.

“We are prepared for industrial action if the government fails to take the necessary steps to revert this scheme and we are prepared for it.”