The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP has directed its members to resume work on Monday, 30, May 2022 following the expiration of its two weeks strike.
The union, in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi Yalwa disclosed that it took the decision, following some progress made with the Federal Government regarding its demands, adding that the government had met four of its demands.
ASUP therefore, said the decision to resume work was to give the federal government more time to meet the remaining five demands.
The statement reads: “The two weeks definite strike of the union will be rounding off on the 29th of May, 2022 as agreed by the emergency meeting of NEC.
“Consequently, the union is requesting members to resume duties effective 30th of May, 2022 while hoping that the government will take advantage of the window to address the five outstanding items.
“Further directives/ updates shall be released after the 103rd meeting of NEC which is scheduled to hold in the month of June 2022 during which the situation shall be reviewed”, it added.
Recall, the union had embarked on a two weeks definite warning strike which commenced on May 16, following the resolution of its emergency National Executive Council meeting on the 11th of May, 2022.
The union had said the decision was taken to protest the lethargic attitude of the government towards fulfilling some aspects of the memorandum of action (MoA) signed in 2021.
Within the period of the action, the government commenced the payment of arrears of the new minimum wage in all affected Federal Polytechnics.
The government also approved and released regulatory instruments for accreditation of institutions, management and programmes.
Also, a decision was taken on the vexed issue of victimisation of union officials in the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu, where five ASUP members were dismissed due to their participation in the 2017 strike of the union.
Similarly, the issue of continued infractions in the Federal Polytechnics Act as typified by the release of a contentious template for the appointment of principal officers by the Federal Ministry of Education, was also handled as the document is due to be withdrawn as agreed
In the meantime, the outstanding demands of ASUP include the release of the approved N15bn revitalisation fund for the sector; the release of arrears of CONTISS 15 migration for the lower cadre and the release of the Scheme of Service and Conditions of Service.
Others include continued delay in the appointment of substantive Rectors for Federal Polytechnics in Mubi, Offa and Kaduna, as well as resolution of issues with members in Colleges of Agriculture.