With the ASUP ultimatum expiring today, polytechnic lecturers prepare for a possible strike if the Federal Government fails to meet their demands.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he 15-day ultimatum issued by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to the Federal Government is set to expire today, October 23, with a potential strike looming if the government fails to meet the union’s demands.
The threat of industrial action stems from unresolved disputes surrounding a new scheme of service for polytechnic lecturers across Nigeria.
Also read: ASUU meets in Abuja over strike notice to Federal Government
ASUP had previously suspended a planned strike in July, following the intervention of the Federal Government, which instructed the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to address the contentious issues in the guidelines.
However, according to ASUP Zone D Coordinator, Dr Iloma Richard, the government has not made any substantial progress in resolving the concerns raised by the union.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria in Port Harcourt, Richard expressed frustration over the government’s inaction. “Regrettably, as I speak, no progress has been made in this direction due to the obvious reluctance of NBTE,” he said.
Richard also criticised the government’s attitude towards the welfare of polytechnic lecturers, warning that it could lead to the collapse of technical and vocational education in the country.
ASUP’s core grievances include the delay in implementing the revised scheme of service, the non-release of a stakeholders-validated Condition of Service, and the inconsistencies between the Federal Polytechnic Act and the laws governing state polytechnics.
Additionally, there are concerns about delayed salary reviews for state-owned polytechnic lecturers and unpaid arrears for federal polytechnics.
Lecturers in ASUP’s Zone D, which covers the South-South and South-East regions, have fully endorsed the union’s plan to withdraw their services if the government does not act.
Richard confirmed that the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) is prepared to mobilise members immediately after the ultimatum expires if the government remains unresponsive.
The union has also demanded the release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention fund and the inclusion of lecturers’ peculiar academic allowances in the budget, as part of its wider list of demands.
As the deadline approaches, the educational sector braces for potential disruptions, with the lecturers’ strike likely to have far-reaching consequences on Nigeria’s polytechnic system.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
