ASUP suspends 65-day-old strike

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has resolved to suspend its 65-day-old strike.

Polytechnic lecturers have been on industrial action for more than two months over the federal government’s failure to meet some of their demands.

ASUP had stated some of its demands to include non-implementation of the 2014 NEEDS Report and non-release of revitalisation funds to the sector despite assurances since 2017.

But on Wednesday, the union issued a statement announcing the suspension of the strike with effect from Thursday, June 10.

ASUP also stated that the suspension is only for a period of three months to enable the federal government to complete the execution of the items contained in a memorandum of action it signed with the union on April 27, 2021.

“As part of the efforts communicated by the Federal Ministry of Education, certain items have been fulfilled like the reconstitution and inauguration of governing councils and visitation panels in Nigerian Federal Polytechnics while we are led to believe that the release of funds for infrastructure revitalization and minimum wage arrears is currently being processed,” the statement added.

“Other items include the ongoing efforts at the review of the Scheme of Service and Conditions of Service for Polytechnics as well as the commencement of work towards resolution of the issues around CONTISS 15 migration arrears for the lower cadre. We also acknowledge the recent passage of the Bill for removal of the dichotomy against HND holders in the country”.

Earlier addressing NAPS, Chukuemeka Nwajiuba, minister of state for education, had noted that everything that had to do with ASUP had been settled.

He had also said that the onus was with the union to be fair on the students by calling off the strike.

“Every one of us is pained by what is going on in the polytechnic sector of our education, many of us spoke with ASUP at the time of their warning strike that we are not running an adhoc government,” the minister had said.

“Nothing ends today, even if I die today, Nigeria will continue and there is nothing that will stop Nigeria.

“When ASUP wanted to start this strike, we wrote them and said everything that ASUP requested for has been agreed upon, we do not have one area of disagreement.

“On May 23, we communicated to ASUP and we have given them a catalogue of everything that they said we should do that we have complied with.”