of its demands by the government.
A release signed by ASUP President, Anderson Ezeibe said the academic
activities have been shut down in ALL PROGRAMS run in Polytechnics and
like institutions across the nation effective 00.00 hrs.
He said the union had resolved to embark on a strike action at the 99th
meeting of our Union’s National Executive Council meeting held in
Katsina a fortnight ago.
“We updated the Nigerian public through various media outlets of the
unfortunate neglect of the technological education subsector by
governments in Nigeria.
According to him, the strike was as a result of the sorry state of
public Polytechnics, Monotechnics as well as the entire subsector.
Others are the failure of the government to respond appropriately to the
series of letters written on the subject and the expiration of the
Union’s ultimatum issued since March 2020 as well as the development of
new issues of concern in the sector due to the negligence of the
government.
“Today therefore marks Day 1 of the execution of the resolutions of our
Union as already, academic activities have been shut down in ALL
PROGRAMS run in Polytechnics and like institutions across the nation
effective 00.00 hrs of 6th April, 2021.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the following demands were communicated to
the government through the Ministries of Education; as well as Labour
and Employment and indeed other ministries where our members offer
services through various monotechnics.
“The governors of the states where our members operate were also
notified as appropriate.
(a) The non-implementation of NEEDS Assessment report of 2014 in the
sector nor release of any revitalization fund to the sector despite
assurances since 2017.
(b) The non-reconstitution of governing councils in Federal Polytechnics
and many state owned institutions leading to the disruption of
governance and administrative processes in the institutions since May,
2020. This has also undermined the renegotiation of the Union’s 2010
agreement with the government as such was unilaterally suspended by the
government for over 2 years now. Our union has continued to demand for
the deployment of developed capacity from the sector over the years in
this process and need to reconstitute the councils in line with the
Amendments in the Polytechnics Act.
(c) The non-release of the 10 months arrears of minimum wage owed our
members in Federal Polytechnics and non-implementation of same in
several state owned institutions. This is despite the presidential
directive for the payment of these arrears since December 2019.
(d) Nonpayment of salaries in some state owned institutions as our
members are owed their legitimate emoluments ranging from 5 to 24 months
in Abia, Ogun, Osun, Edo, Benue, Plateau etc.
(e) Continued victimization of officials of our Union as seen in
Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, Federal Polytechnic Mubi
as well as Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo. This situation has degenerated to
the clamping down and brazen illegal seizure of the properties of our
Union by the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Nassarawa.
(f) Non establishment of a commission for the sector to bridge gaps in
regulatory activities, as well as match the expansion of the sector
while positioning the institutions towards fulfillment of their mandate
to the country.
(g) Non implementation of the approved 65 years retirement age in the
sector by some state governments notably Kano as well as the continued
appointment of unqualified persons as Rectors of Polytechnics in some
states.
(h) Offensive claims of purported tax liabilities in 19 Federal
Polytechnics by the Accountant General of the Federation and plans to
illegally invade the legitimate emoluments of our members in same guise
and to the tune of over N20bn.
(i) Inefficiency as well as the opaque operations in the deployment of
the IPPIS in the sector. This is seen in the sustained non release of
third party deductions effected from members’ salaries in some
institutions as well as mix ups in the remittances of same.
(j) Non release of arrears of promotion to our members in Federal
Polytechnics and non-implementation of same in several state owned
institutions like Adamawa, Sokoto etc. Our members are equally owed
arrears of CON TISS 15 migration for the lower cadre since 2014
(k) Renewed attempts to insert offensive provisions in the scheme of
service and conditions of service for polytechnics and non-release of
same documents for use in the sector since 2017
(l) Plans to force our members in some monotechnics out of our union.
“These issues as communicated to the government represent issues of
industrial conflict in the sector with some assuming intractable
dimensions and robbing the sector of the desired impact in the nation’s
quest for technological development.
“We therefore appeal to the Nigerian public to show understanding and
support the effort of our Union in this direction as government is yet
to demonstrate any seriousness in resolving the issues as listed.
“Our Union will not fail to update Nigerians through the media of any
new developments as we embark on this journey of salvation for the
sector,” Ezeibe said.