Lecturers in the public polytechnic system in Nigeria have been directed to resume academic activities on Monday, December 16, 2024, following the expiration of the two weeks warning strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) on 2nd ,December
ASUP President, Shammah Kpanja issued the directive in a statement on Saturday
The warning strike was declared by the union to compel government and
its agencies to execute nine items in the work plan jointly developed with ASUP to resolve some pending issues of the trade dispute.
He said that government during the period of the industrial action convened a meeting with the union on how to resolve the dispute and save the sector from imminent collapse
The directive reads in part: “Within the period of the strike, the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment convened a conciliation meeting between our Union and the government on the 9th December, 2024 to resolve the dispute and save the sector from the impending indefinite strike,” Kpanja stated.
“At the meeting, a new memorandum of understanding was signed with a caveat that another meeting will be held on 23rd January, 2025 to assess compliance by parties as well as to address other issues.
“After this meeting, the Union’s National Executive Council will meet to review the situation.
“In view of this development, all members of the Union are directed to resume duties from Monday 16th December, 2024.
“While we thank and commend our members for their commitment and resilience, it is our Union’s expected hope that the government will diligently work to ensure a fruitful resolution of the issues in dispute.”
ASUP is demanding for implementation of the Polytechnic system Act by the Federal Government
The union expressed concern over what it described as acts of impunity and disrespect of clear provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act in the appointment of Rectors in Federal Polytechnic, Wannune, Federal Polytechnic, Nekede as well as non-appointment of Rector in Federal Polytechnic,Damaturu.
ASUP accused the Federal Government for encouraging such acts of impunity through negligence as she has failed to review the flawed processes and/or hold erring Governing Councils to account as already ruled by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria
The union is also worried over non-review of the contentious and suspended document titled;Schemes of Service or Condition of Service in the system
The academic staff are equally disturbed over what the Non-release of the NEEDS Assessment intervention funds for 2023.
The union also faulted what it called Intrusion of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) into the regular functions of the Academic Boards of Polytechnics in the admission of Higher National Diploma students into Nigerian Polytechnics, Monotechnics and Colleges of Technology amongst others other issues
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