From: Gabriel Dike
The indefinite strike by polytechnic lecturers nationwide which took off on Monday has affected on-going examinations, marking of answer scripts and lectures in several institutions.
The National Executive Council (NEC) of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), last week directed its 55 chapters in federal and state polytechnics to down tools on beginning Monday, November 13, if the Federal Government fails to meet the union’s demands.
ASUP in October 9 issued the federal government 14-day ultimatum to implement outstanding demands which include NEEDS Assessment for federal and state polytechnics put at over N652, 591, 478, 614 billion, Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Scale (CONTISS 15) N20billion and short fall in salaries as at December 2016 N2, 637, 161,000billion and earned academic allowance at over N3, 221,487,017 billion.
Other demands are non removal of dichotomy against HND holders, victimization of union officials, non release of check off dues, interference in union activities, non release of CONTISS 15 migration arrears, non release of visitation panel reports, delay in review of the Federal Polytechnics Act, non commencement of renegotiation of ASUP/FG agreement of 2010 and tardiness in appointment of rectors of federal polytechnics.
In line with NEC directive, lecturers stayed away from the lecture halls, did not participate in on-going examinations in some institutions, marking of answer scripts and other related academic activities.
At Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) students were stranded in the lecture halls as their lecturers stayed away in compliance with NEC order. Congress of the union later met in the morning to endorse the strike after which academic staff left for home or to their office.
ASUP YABATECH chapter chairman, Prince Adeyemi Aromolaran, confirmed that his members had complied with the strike directive and that the college management were informed on Thursday of NEC decision noting ‘’our students are on there own. Academic activities for 2016/2017 second semester session have been paralysed.’’
The National President of ASUP, Mr. Usman Dutse, General Secretary, Mr. Anderson Ezeibe and Zonal Coordinator, South West, Adetunji Omobaorun confirmed to Daily Sun that members nationwide complied with NEC directive as academic activities were crippled.
Dutse in a text respond disclosed that the strike is indefinite while the coordinator for South west zone, Omobaorun, said ‘’effective this morning, we commence our action in defence of the sector. The strike is total and comprehensive in line with national directive to chapters to embark on strike.’’
ASUP scribe told Daily Sun that reports from the 55 chapters indicate full compliance and stressed that the union did not grant any chapter exemption from the national strike.
Said he: ‘’There is no way we embark on strike that it will not affect one academic programme. It is unfortunate that lectures and examinations are affected by the ongoing national strike. Students and parents should understand the situation. It is the government that forced ASUP to take this action.
‘’ASUP is wiser now. We need to have government implement our demands first and foremost. No amount of meetings will make us change our minds. For sometimes now, government made promises and failed to implement any. Our members are tired of empty promises.’’
Ezeibe confirmed that ASUP at a meeting on October 24 rejected the Memorandum of Settlement (MoS) prepared by government officials because it was not acceptable to the union noting that provisions in the MoS were not definite as to the time frame for implementation.
According to him, a meeting between government officials scheduled for today (Monday) in Abuja has been moved to Wednesday but warned that government must be definite on the implementation period.
ASUP Auchi Polytechnic chairman, Mr. Justin Momodu, confirmed that the strike took off despite on-going students registration stating ‘’the strike monitoring team went round to ensure compliance. Our members kept away from their offices. The offices are closed.’’
He disclosed that the management were notified of the national strike and explained that no academic programmes took place on Monday and would remain same until the industrial action is suspended by ASUP.
The Federal Polytechnic Bida ASUP chairman, Dr. Umaru Saganuwa, said lectures ought to start for 2017/2018 academic session but that the strike has shut down the institution adding ‘’nothing is happening in the school. Every member of the union complied with the directive.
Chairman of ASUP Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, Dr. Husaini Yusuf, said the compliance level of the national strike is 100 per cent and that the monitoring went round in the morning and afternoon to enforce the order.
He explained that the union informed their students in advance and some had started to return home despite being on campus for just three weeks for first semester of the 2017/2018 academic session.