ASUP threatens shutdown of public polytechnics as ultimatum nears expiry

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Zone B, has issued a stern warning to proprietors of public polytechnics, urging them to meet their demands or face a total shutdown of the institutions.

The 15-day ultimatum issued by the union is set to expire on the 21st of this month.

Speaking during a press conference in Jos on Friday, the Coordinator of Zone B, Simji Lumpye, expressed dissatisfaction with the poor treatment and neglect public polytechnics, colleges of technology, and monotechnics have faced from their proprietors. The union warned that failure to address their grievances would lead to serious disruptions in the academic calendar of these institutions.

He said, “Our Union’s National Executive Council met at its 111th NEC to review the current status of our engagements with proprietors of public polytechnics, colleges of technology, and monotechnics in the country. Specifically, our union extensively reviewed some disturbing issues affecting the polytechnic sector in her last NEC meeting held in Abuja.

“These issues include but are not limited to the sustained reports of impunity and disrespect of clear provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act, different edicts establishing state-owned institutions, and other instruments of governance in the sector, particularly as it affects the appointment of principal officers in federal and state-owned institutions as well as other items of governance in polytechnics.

“Non-review of the contentious and suspended document titled Scheme of Service for Polytechnics and the non-release of conditions of service. Non-release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention funds. The 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.

“Non-capturing of the peculiar academic allowance of members in the budget for sustained payment in the planned post-IPPIS era. Refusal of state governments to implement the 25/35% salary review for members and non-release of the arrears of same in Federal Polytechnics.

“Non-release of the owed CONTISS 15 migration arrears to members in the lower cadre. Non-conclusion of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement renegotiation process. Nonpayment of promotion arrears in state and federal institutions and nonimplementation of promotion in some state-owned institutions.”

He added that based on the 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 NEC of the Union made demands that included the immediate review and reversal of all decisions and acts of impunity inconsistent with the provisions of the Polytechnics Act and other instruments of governance in the sector.

The unionists called for “the immediate commencement of the review process of the suspended document titled Scheme of Service for Polytechnics as agreed in the tripartite meeting of July 2024.

“The release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention fund for public polytechnics and colleges of technology. Cessation of all acts undermining or duplicating the responsibilities of Academic Boards of Polytechnics in students’ admission processes by the NBTE as demonstrated by its recent launch of a students’ admission portal.

“The inclusion of the negotiated peculiar academic allowance in the budget against the post-IPPIS payment scheme/template for members. Immediate implementation of the approved 25/35% salary review across all tertiary institutions in the states and the payment of the accrued arrears, the release 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, and release of outstanding promotion arrears in States, Federal institutions, and colleges of technology.”

They stressed that the listed demands be made to ensure a functional polytechnic and monotechnic education system in the country and warned that if not, the proprietors of public polytechnics should be ready to “face different forms of trade disputes.”