ASUP Suspends Planned Nationwide Strike

ASUPThe Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) on Friday said the nationwide strike action it earlier threatened to embark upon with effect from Monday, August 22, has been suspended till further notice.

The polytechnic lecturers had last week Friday gave notice to embark on strike should the federal government fail to honour the agreement it reached with the Union in 2014.

Some of the contentious areas that ASUP has been crying for a peaceful resolution since 2013 are non-implementation of the NEEDS Assessment Report 2014, non-payment of salaries in many state-owned polytechnics between 2 to 8 months, shortfalls in personnel allocations to polytechnics as well as unpaid allowances in federal polytechnics since January 2016 and non-release of arrears of promotion.

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Others are: victimization of union officials, non-release of check-off dues and interference in union activities, non-release of visitation panel reports of federal polytechnics since 2011, delay in the review of the Polytechnic Act and non-commencement of the renegotiation of the ASUP/FGN agreement of 2010, which has been due since 2013.

Addressing a press conference after its 58th Zonal Executive Council (ZEC) meeting held at the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, the Kogi State capital earlier today, ASUP Zonal Coordinator for Zone B, Comrade Abdullahi Yelwa, said the decision to put the planned action on hold was in view of the recent moves being made by the federal government in reaching out to the Union for dialogue over the aforementioned grievances.

Comrade Yelwa, however, noted that the Union was only on ‘standby mode’ over the strike action to allow discussion with the government, adding that ASUP would not hesitate in resuming its planned action once it observes lack of commitment in addressing their demands.

The ASUP zonal coordinator also commended the recent moves being made by the federal government to end the dichotomy that had existed between polytechnic graduates and their university counterparts in the interest of justice and fair-play.