The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet outstanding demands contained in its 2010 agreement with the union.
Naijaonpoint reports that ASUP President, Shammah Kpanja, disclosed this on Thursday during a briefing to newsmen after an emergency National Executive Council meeting in Abuja.
Kpanja explained that the union’s demands include the immediate release of a circular by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission to effect payment of the Peculiar Academic Allowance for polytechnic lecturers.
He said, “The Peculiar Academic Allowances paid to academic staff across polytechnics are a component of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement. Rather than make provisions for payment, these allowances have been removed from the budgeting template, and the Federal Ministry of Education has failed to intervene in definite terms.”
The union president noted that the 25/35 per cent salary review arrears, covering 12 months and already captured in the budget, were yet to be released “for reasons beyond the comprehension of the union.”
He also faulted the continued outsourcing of the polytechnic accreditation process by the National Board for Technical Education despite assurances to halt the practice.
Kpanja lamented that many state governments have yet to implement the new national minimum wage in polytechnics.
He further decried the continued delay in approving a dual mandate structure aimed at ending the “longstanding discrimination against HND holders.”
“In view of the items listed above, our union’s NEC has resolved to issue a 21-day ultimatum to the government to address the issues satisfactorily.
“A failure to utilise this window may lead to the declaration of a trade dispute and withdrawal of services of our members across public polytechnics and monotechnics nationwide,” he warned.
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