By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) yesterday issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address its grievances, commencing on Monday, October 7.
The union threatened to shut down the polytechnics at the expiration of the ultimatum if the government did not address its demands.
It also accused the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) of usurping its academic board’s functions regarding admissions to Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes and promised not to allow this to continue.
These, among other things, were contained in the text of the press conference read at the end of the 111th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja to review the current status of its engagements with proprietors of public polytechnics, colleges of technology, and mono-technics in the country.
It said that the union specifically extensively reviewed the alleged sustained reports of impunity and disrespect of explicit provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act, different edicts establishing state-owned institutions, and other instruments of governance in the sector, mainly as it affects the appointment of principal officers in federal and state-owned polytechnics and other items of governance in polytechnics.
In the text read by its President, Comrade Shamnah Kpanja, the union noted with dismay that it had exhausted all avenues to ensure that the government addressed its grievances, stressing that all efforts made were futile.
Other areas of contention were the non-review of the contentious and suspended document titled Schemes of Service for Polytechnics and the non-release of conditions of service, non-release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention funds, intrusion of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) into the regular functions of the Academic Boards of Polytechnics in the admission of Higher National Diploma students in the Nigerian Polytechnic System, among others.
ASUP, in its resolution, said, “Following a review of the disposition of the government through the supervising ministry of education, the regulatory body and other agencies of government as well as the governing councils of some of the polytechnics to the issues outlined, the 111th NEC meeting of the Union rose with the following demands:
“Review and reverse all decisions/acts of impunity inconsistent with the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act and other sector governance instruments. The review process of the suspended document titled Schemes of Service for Polytechnics 2023 will commence immediately, as agreed in the tripartite meeting of July 2024.
“Release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention for public polytechnics and Colleges of Technology. Cessation of all acts purporting to undermine, duplicate, or surrender the responsibilities of Academic Boards of Polytechnics in students’ admission processes to the NBTE as demonstrated by the recent launch of a students’ admission portal by the NBTE.
“Inclusion of the negotiated peculiar academic allowance in the budget against post IPPIS payment scheme/template for members. Immediate implementation of the approved 25/35% salary review across all public polytechnics and the payment of the accrued arrears.
“Release and final resolution of the age-long CONTISS 15 migration arrears for the lower cadre. Recommencement and completion of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement renegotiation process. Immediate release of the reviewed conditions of service.
“Immediate implementation of promotion in state-owned institutions. Release of outstanding promotion arrears in federal institutions and colleges of technology.”
It further said, “Following the above-listed demands and pursuant to our resolve to continue to advocate for a functional polytechnic education system in the country, our union hereby issues a 15-day ultimatum as required by law commencing from 7th October 2024 to proprietors of public polytechnics for these items to be addressed or face different forms of trade dispute declaration including a possible withdrawal of service of members of our Union across the country.
“At the expiration of the 15-day ultimatum, the union’s NEC will reconvene to decide a specific and legitimate course and design of action to address the issues listed. Zones and chapters of the Union are to prepare members for necessary action within the 15-day ultimatum through congresses, peaceful protests, and media campaigns on the issues.
“We hope the government shall explore the 15 days to address the issues and save the sector from an imminent shutdown.
