The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has threatened to embark on an industrial action across the country by which they will withdraw services of its members.
The planned strike is scheduled to commence on April 6, 2021.
The National President of the union, Mr. Anderson Ezeibe made the disclosure in Katsina during a press briefing on the status of the labor issues between the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and the government.
According to him, the strike is meant to draw the attention of the government to the nine basic needs of the union. He said the need to release the 10 months in arrears of the new minimum wage owed its members in Federal Polytechnics and the implementation of same in the several states yet to implement the new minimum wage scheme.
He added that the Union’s decision follows the successful completion of the ASUP 99th National Executive Council Meeting held at the Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina.
2. Other needs of the Union include implementation of the contents of the Needs Assessment Report of 2014 in public Polytechnics and like institutions.
3. Reconstitute governing councils in all Federal Polytechnics and in state-owned Polytechnics where such is yet to be constituted.
4. Release owed Staff salaries in Abia, Ogun, Osun, Benue, Plateau, Edo, and the Cross River States and implement full salary payments in Sokoto, Kaduna, Adamawa, and other institutions with such reports.
5. Release of promotion arrears in Federal Polytechnics and payment of same as well as annual increments in Adamawa, Plateau, and other states with similar cases.
6. Withdrawal of letter containing spurious, incoherent, and unsubstantiated claims of PAYE tax liabilities in 19 Federal Polytechnics.
7. Ensure full implementation of the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act as well as its domestication in Adamawa, Kano, Sokoto, Abia, Niger, and other states affected.
8. Stop attempts at forcing the ASUP members in colleges of Agriculture out of the union.
9. And lastly implement the 65 years retirement age for academic Staff in state-owned institutions like in Kano, Kaduna, and other state institutions in the country.
By this resolution, the Union members are requested to prepare for a full-scale showdown until their demands are met and this culture of neglect of the Sector reversed.