The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, has said that the union is set to embark on a one month strike action should the Federal Government fail to release the agreed N15 billion revitalization funds it promised the union, among other conditions.
National President of ASUP, Anderson Ezeibe, made this known to news men at the end of 102nd NEC meeting of the union held at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Thursday, in Adamawa state.
Ezeibe decried that Polytechnics staff in the country have been owed minimum wage arrears since December 31st, 2019 stressing that despite President Buhari’s directives for payment of the arrears, nothing had been done.
“The government is yet to release the sum of N15billion as the first tranche of the N800billion revitalisation fund nine months after the approval by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“Other issues include non-payment of outstanding arrears of minimum wage, non-release of reviewed normative instrument for institutions, management and accreditation, breach of the provisions of the Federal Polytechnic Act as amended in 2019 and delay in the appointment of rectors.
“So long as the government and other proprietors in the polytechnic system continue to violate laws and signed agreements, the union would not hesitate to down tool, saying industrial action had become the most potent way for workers to pressurise the government.
“Following exhaustive deliberation, the union’s National Executive Council has resolved to give the government a further one month as an ultimatum to address the outstanding issues as listed or face a review of the suspended industrial action by our union.”
