Abuja: The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to meet its outstanding demands in an agreement entered into with the union.
Mr Shammah Kpanja, President of ASUP, said this while addressing reporters at the end of an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council of the union on Thursday in Abuja.
Kapanja said that the demands by the union include the non-release of a circular to effect the payment of its Peculiar Academic Allowance by the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).
He stated that the Peculiar Academic Allowances paid to academic staff across Polytechnics were a component of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement.
The union leader stated that, instead of making provisions for payment, the allowances have been removed from the budgeting template, and the Federal Ministry of Education (FME) has failed to intervene definitively on the subject.
He said the NEC expressed deep concerns over the continued decision by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to outsource the accreditation process for polytechnics in the country despite assurances to desist from such actions.
The union leader said the 25/35 per cent arrears of salary review was yet to be implemented.
He stated that the arrears, which span 12 months and are included in the budget, have yet to be released due to reasons beyond the union’s understanding.
ASUP president added that NEC expressed deep concerns over the continued decision by the NBTE to outsource the accreditation process for polytechnics in the country despite assurances to desist from such actions.
He said that most state governments have failed to implement the New National Minimum Wage.
He stated that NEC has expressed concern over the prolonged delay and lack of approval for a dual mandate structure designed to address the longstanding discrimination against HND holders.
“Given 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 said.
