Polytechnics lecturers begin strike Dec. 2

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has announced a two-week warning strike starting December 2, 2024, over the Federal Government’s failure to address its 11-point demands.

ASUP President, Kpanja Shamnah, disclosed this during a press briefing at the end of the union’s 112th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

“Our union’s National Executive Council, NEC, held its 112th session to review the current status of our engagements with proprietors of Public Polytechnics, Colleges of Technology and Monotechnics in the country,” he said.

“The defining resolutions of our union’s 111th NEC was the issuance of a 15-day ultimatum to the government to address issues threatening the progress of the sector or face a withdrawal of services by our members nationwide.”

Shamnah cited “sustained reports of impunity and disrespect of clear provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act” as well as recent breaches, including the “sordid display of the Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, in the appointment process of a new Rector” and “the appointment of a Rector in Federal Polytechnic, Wannune without following due process.”

He also noted concerns about “the non-review of the contentious and suspended document entitled Schemes of Service for Polytechnics,” the “non-release of the NEEDS Assessment intervention funds for 2023,” and the “intrusion of the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, into the regular functions of the Academic Boards of Polytechnics.”

“Following these developments and a thorough review by our union’s 112th NEC meeting, the union resolved to withdraw the services of its members nationwide with effect from December 2, 2024, on a two-week definite strike action in the first instance. This shall serve as a warning to the government to resolve the issues listed or be held responsible for an indefinite action going forward,” Shamnah said.