The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to shut down polytechnics across the country if the Government fails to address its demands.
The union issued the ultimatum on Thursday at a press briefing shortly after their emergency National Executive Council meeting in Abuja that the 15-day ultimatum to the federal government would commence on Monday, October 7, 2024.
President of the union, Comrade Shamnah Kpanja, who spoke on their behalf, accused the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), of usurping the functions of its academic board as regards admission of students for Higher National Diploma (HND), programmes and promised not allow such to continue.
Kpanja noted with dismay that it had exhausted all avenues to ensure that the government addressed their grievances, stressing that all efforts made were futile.
According to him, the decision taken by the NEC to ensure that Federal Government implement longstanding issues affecting the sector .
“Our union hereby issues 15 days ultimatum as required by law commencing from Oct. 7 to proprietors of public polytechnics for these items to be addressed.
“At the expiration of the ultimatum, the union’s NEC will reconvene to decide a specific and legitimate course and design of action to address the issues listed.
“Zones and chapters of the Union are to prepare members for necessary action within the 15 days ultimatum through congresses, peaceful protests, and media campaigns on the issues.
“It is our hope that the 15 days period shall be explored by the government to address the issues and save the sector from an imminent shut down,”he said.
He said that the demands included the review and reversal of all acts of impunity inconsistent with the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act and other instruments of governance in the sector.
He called for the immediate commencement of the review process of the suspended document titled schemes of service for polytechnics 2023 as agreed in the tripartite meeting of July 2024.
According to him, release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention for public polytechnics and Colleges of Technology was also part of theunion’ sdemands.
He listed other demands to include Cessation of all acts purporting to undermine, duplicate or surrender the responsibilities of Academic Boards of Polytechnics in students’ admission processes.
“Inclusion of the negotiated peculiar academic allowance in the budget against post IPPIS payment template for members.
“Immediate implementation of the approved 25/35 per cent salary review across all public polytechnics and the payment of the accrued arrears,” he said.
Kpanja also called for the release and final resolution of the age long CONTISS 15 migration arrears for the lower cadre, as well as recommencement and completion of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement renegotiation process.
He said that it was also important for the government to immediately release the reviewed conditions of service.
“This will pave the way for immediate implementation of promotion in state owned institutions and also release of outstanding promotion arrears in federal institutions and colleges of technology.
“Following the above listed demands, and pursuant to our resolve to continue to advocate for a functional polytechnic education system in the country, ”he said.
Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has vowed to down tools after the expiration of the 14-day ultimatum given to the Federal Government to meet their demands.
Briefing Journalists, Monday, in Calabar, the Zonal Coordinator, ASUU Calabar Zone, Comrade Happiness Uduk who read a jointly signed release by all Chairpersons of the zone said that the Federal government should be held responsible for the breakdown of industrial harmony which will arise as a result of its indifference towards their plight.
“Our Union will withdraw services, and should not be held responsible for the breakdown in industrial harmony which will arise as a result of the government’s insensitivity, insincerity, indifference, and time-buying tactics.
“The Union calls on those in authority as well as their agents to seize this window so as to forestall the looming crisis.
“With a feeling of indignation, we regret to bore you with the cry of anger, frustration, and unfulfilled promises that have tirelessly bedeviled our struggle and have been front-burnt for several years.”