By Cross Udo, Abuja
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to address their concerns, warning that failure to do so will result in industrial action likely to disrupt academic programs.
ASUP also accused the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, of actively obstructing the establishment of the National Polytechnics Commission, Luke, the Commission that regulates the activities of universities and colleges of education.
The Union further expressed concern over the use of contractors for accreditation exercises in polytechnics.
It said investigations revealed that some of the contractors are registered as farming and construction companies with the Corporate Affairs Commission, with no background in education.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, ASUP condemned the ongoing division between degree holders and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders, stating that this discrimination has negatively impacted the morale of HND graduates within their workplaces.
*Accuses Education Minister of obstructing the establishment of the Polytechnics Commission
ASUP President, Comrade Shammah Kpanja, accused the Minister of Education of blocking the implementation of the Polytechnics Commission.
He claimed, “The Minister of Education has failed to transmit the executive bill to the National Assembly.”
Kpanja lamented the economic hardships facing polytechnic lecturers and accused the federal government of paying mere lip service to the Union’s outstanding demands.
He also faulted the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) for failing to issue a circular to effect payment of the Peculiar Academic Allowance, which is part of the 2010 ASUP-FGN agreement.
He added that instead of making provisions for the allowance, it has been removed from the federal budget, with the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) failing to take definitive action on the matter.
The Union also expressed frustration that the 25-35% salary arrears review, covering 12 months and included in the budget, remains unpaid for reasons unknown to ASUP.
The situation is reportedly more dire in state-owned polytechnics, where some state governments have yet to implement the N70,000 national minimum wage.
Kpanja further criticised the persistent discrimination against HND holders despite policies supporting a dual mandate, claiming that the government’s inaction indirectly promotes this discrimination.
He stated, “The continued delay and non-approval of a dual mandate structure, aimed at eliminating the age-old discrimination against HND holders, has perpetuated discrimination against polytechnic education and its graduates.”
ASUP also condemned the government’s delay in releasing the second tranche of the approved NEEDS Assessment intervention and noted that the relevant committee in the FME has refused to reconvene to review the utilisation of the first tranche.
The Union stressed concerns over the FME’s policy of outsourcing quality assurance in polytechnics, highlighting ethical, economic, and moral flaws in the approach.
ASUP’s National Executive Council also deliberated on the government’s refusal to implement sectoral components of the FME-approved roadmap for setting up a dedicated commission to regulate technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Nigeria.
Kpanja expressed regret that despite the roadmap’s approval, no concrete steps have been taken to establish this much-needed Commission.
Other urgent demands include the non-release of promotion arrears and non-implementation of promotion in many state-owned polytechnics, with some arrears dating back to 2019.
The Union also highlighted the government’s failure to reconstitute negotiations on the ASUP-FGN 2010 agreement aimed at resolving longstanding issues, including the payment of CONTISS 15 arrears, which have been pending since 2014.
“The government has refused to conclude engagements designed to resolve this lingering matter,” Kpanja said.
In light of these unresolved issues and the government’s lack of genuine commitment to dialogue, ASUP’s NEC has resolved to issue a 21-day ultimatum to the federal government to address its demands satisfactorily.
“Kicking against this window may lead to the declaration of a trade dispute and withdrawal of services by our members across public polytechnics and monotechnics nationwide,” the ASUP leadership warned.
