Polytechnic lecturers begin indefinite strike

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP had on Sunday, declared and commenced nationwide indefinite strike, following the failure of the Federal and State governments to implement agreements on issues affecting polytechnic education in the country, despite their seven-day warning strike which ended weekend.

According to the National President of ASUP, Mr Chibuzor Asomugha, on Sunday, he noted that the indefinite strike had become inevitable, because the meeting the union had with Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, on the issues yielded no positive results.

He emphasised that the strike would be called off only when the various governments addressed all issues raised by the Union, urging all polytechnics across the country to abide by the directives to embark on strike.

DailyPost gathered that some of the issues in contention were non-migration of members at the lower cadres on CONTISS 15 salary scale; release of white paper on the visitation panel to Federal Polytechnics; non-commencement of needs assessment of Nigerian polytechnics; worrisome state of state-owned polytechnics/monotechnics; and continued appointment of unqualified persons as Rectors by some state governments.

Others include failure of most state governments to implement approved salary packages (CONPCASS) for polytechnics and the 65 years retirement age issue; continued recognition of the NBTE as a regulatory body for Nigerian polytechnics against the creation of a National Polytechnics Commission; and the snail speed associated with the amendment of the Federal Polytechnics Act, amongst others.

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