Polytechnic lecturers issue 15- day ultimatum over unresolved demands

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address its various demands.

Mr. Shammah Kpanja, ASUP’s National President, issued the ultimatum while addressing newsmen at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja.

Kpanja said that the decision taken by the NEC was imperative as the Federal Government was yet to implement longstanding issues affecting the sector.

“Our union hereby issues a 15-day ultimatum as required by law commencing from Oct. 7 to proprietors of public polytechnics for these items to be addressed.

“At the expiration of the 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.

“It is our hope that the 15-day period shall be explored by the government to address the issues and save the sector from an imminent shutdown, he said.

He said that the demands included the

review and reversal of all acts of impunity inconsistent with the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act and other instruments of governance in the sector.

He called for the immediate commencement of the review process of the suspended document titled schemes of service for polytechnics 2023, as agreed in the tripartite meeting of July 2024.

According to him, the release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention for public polytechnics and colleges of technology was also part of the union's demands.

He listed other demands to include cessation of all acts purporting to undermine, duplicate, or surrender the responsibilities of Academic Boards of Polytechnics in students’ admission processes.

“Inclusion of the negotiated peculiar academic allowance in the budget against the post-IPPIS payment template for members.

“Immediate implementation of the approved 25/35 percent salary review across all public polytechnics and the payment of the accrued arrears, he said.

Kpanja also called for the release and final resolution of the age-long CONTISS 15 migration arrears for the lower cadre, as well as the recommencement and completion of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement renegotiation process.

He said that it was also important for the government to immediately release the reviewed conditions of service.

“This will pave the way for immediate implementation of promotion in state-owned institutions and also release of outstanding promotion arrears in federal institutions and colleges of technology.

“Following the above-listed demands and pursuant to our resolve to continue to advocate for a functional polytechnic education system in the country, ”he said.