JUST IN: Polytechnic lecturers declare two-week strike

By Akinwande Soji-Ojo

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has said its members will embark on a two-week strike from May 16, 2022.

In a statement released on Wednesday, ASUP said it took the decision after an emergency National Executive Council(NEC) meeting, held on Wednesday.

According to the statement signed by its national president, Anderson Ezeibe, the union said the Federal Government is yet to meet the its demand.

ASUP suspended its industrial action declared on April 6,2021 and June 10, 2021 following the signing of a Memorandum of Action (MoA) with the government.

The signed MoA contained a clear path to a sustainable resolution of the issues in dispute with timelines attached to each of the items in dispute.

Part of the demand includes the non-release of the approved revitalisation fund for the sector, approved N15 billion, yet to be released 11 months after approval by the President.

“Non-release of arrears of the new minimum wage; the owed 10 months arrears for the Polytechnics is yet to be released. The composite amount covering all Federal Tertiary Institutions to the approximate figure of N19 billion currently exists as an AIE in the Accountant General’s Office.

“We are deploying this medium to equally appeal to members of the public to prevail on the government to do the needful within the two weeks period so as to avoid an indefinite shutdown of the sector,” it added.