Polytechnic lecturers prepare for strike, issue ultimatum to Buhari regime

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) has threatened to resume its suspended strike if the Federal Government fails to address outstanding issues of Nigeria polytechnics in one month.

Anderson Ezeibe, the National President of the union, issued the ultimatum at a news conference at the end of its 102 Executive Council meeting in Yola.

“In choosing to extend the long-expired three months suspension period of our industrial action, we are convinced that the extra window of one month typifies our level of restraint,” the union leader stated

“And consideration for our students and other members of the public even as we hope that the government will take advantage of this opportunity to avoid a shutdown of the sector.”

Mr Ezeibe listed some of the issues as non-release of the scheme of service, delay in the appointment of rectors and non-release of arrears of the new minimum wage.

He said that several states had refused to implement the new minimum wage Act in their respective institutions since 2019 and non-appointment of the board of directors.

Mr Ezeibe appealed to members of the public to “prevail on the government to do the needful and avoid a shutdown of the sector.”

According to him, the government should put more effort into the sector to be productive in technical manpower development.

He added that the country should not be looking for technical manpower outside the country, hence the need for the government to do the needful.

(NAN)