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  • ASUP threatens strike over unresolved issues

    ASUP threatens strike over unresolved issues

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has threatened to embark on strike from April 6, over what it described as “unresolved issues with the Federal Government and some states.

    ASUP gave the notice in a communique at the end of its 99th National Executive Council meeting on Friday, in Katsina.

    In the communique, signed by its President, Mr Anderson Ezeibe, ASUP said the decision was to draw government’s attention to the need to release the 10 months arrears of the new minimum wage, owed its members in federal polytechnics.

    The association also demanded that some state governments should pay up arrears of the new minimum wage owed state polytechnic lecturers.

    “There is the need to implement the contents of the NEEDS Assessment report of 2014 in public polytechnics and similar institutions.

    “’Another issue also is the reconstitution of Governing Councils in all federal polytechnics and some state-owned polytechnics where such is yet to be constituted.

    “Others are the full implementation of the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act, as well as its domestication in Adamawa, Kano, Sokoto, Abia, Niger and other affected states”, it said.

    ASUP further called for the release of salaries owed staff in Abia, Ogun, Osun, Benue, Plateau, Edo and Cross River, as well as the implementation of full salary payments in Sokoto, Kaduna, Adamawa and others.

    It appealed to the government to withdraw the letter containing unsubstantiated claims of PAYE tax liabilities in 19 federal polytechnics.

    The communique also urged Kano and Kaduna governments, to implement the 65 years retirement age for academic staff in their tertiary institutions.

    The association, in the communique, concluded that; “By this resolution, ASUP members are requested to prepare for a full scale showdown until the union’s demands are met.”

  • ASUP petitions Abia govt. over 20 months unpaid salaries

    ASUP petitions Abia govt. over 20 months unpaid salaries

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has sent a petition to the National Human Right Commission over 20 months unpaid salaries by Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia.

    Mr Anderson Ezeibe, National President of ASUP, stated this in a letter addressed to the Executive Secretary of the commission and made available to newsmen on Sunday in Abuja.

    Ezeibe said that the governor had refused to pay salaries to its members in Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, for the past 20 months.

    “We are compelled to bring to the attention of the Commission the refusal of the Abia State Government (proprietor of the institution), Governing Council and Management of the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba to honour its contractual obligations to our members in the institution for a cumulative period of 20 months.

    “Our members in this institution covering all teaching staff of the Polytechnic are owed salaries from July 2018 to October, 2019 and from March 2020 till July 2020.

    “This is despite several entreaties to the institution’s management, governing council and the Government of Abia State to pay the accrued salaries.

    ”It is noteworthy to point out that since the escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria in March 2020, the members have not received any salary and have been living in serious discomfort as no form of palliative has been extended to them.

    “Our union sees this development as a violation of the fundamental rights of our members in Abia State Polytechnic, Aba particularly as it affects their rights to just and favourable conditions of work guaranteed by the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

    “This development also undermines our members’ rights to life and the dignity of the human person clearly captured in Chapter IV of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and by extension has also adversely affected their dependents access to same rights,” he said.

    The union president said that it was the union’s view that the situation should not be allowed to degenerate further as its members’ rights to adequate health care, shelter and food had equally been violated by the activities of the Abia State Government and Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.

    According to him, “we therefore pray the intervention of the commission in the direction of compelling the Abia State Government and the Abia State Polytechnic, Aba to release the 20 months owed salaries of our members.

    “They are also to ensure forthwith the regular payment of salaries of these staff in line with the terms of their engagement,” he said.

  • Polytechnic lecturers give FG 21 days strike notice

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has threatened to withdraw their services after 21 days if the Federal Government fails to address some issues bedeviling the polytechnic education system in Nigeria.

    ASUP issued the ultimatum during its National Executive Council meeting at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra on Thursday.

    The resolution was entitled “Renewed Threats to the Survival of Polytechnic Education in Nigeria: The Position of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics”.

    The National President of the union, Mr Usmam Dutse, said the polytechnic system which had the mandate to provide training and research services for the nation’s ailing economy should not be allowed to die.

    Dutse said some of their grouse included attempts to forcefully entitle ASUP members into the Integrated Personnel Payroll System, non-implementation of the Federal Polytechnic Act 2019 amendment and confined victimisation of union officers.

    The national president told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that 49 chapters of the union attended the NEC meeting out of the 52 chapters in the country.

    He said others were ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement, renewed efforts at objectionable insertions in the review process of the scheme of services for polytechnics and violations in the implementation of the 2017 MoU signed with the government.

    “Our union has reviewed the above situation as well as the refusal of government to respond to several correspondences on the issues captured above, we resolve to rise up to the occasion once again in defensc of the sector.

    “The unions NEC is hereby issuing a 21-day ultimatum to the government to address the issues listed satisfactorily or risk the indefinite withdrawal of services by our members nationwide.

    “As a follow up to this, all organs and chapters of our union are to begin mobilisation for engagement as we pursue this onerous task of rescuing the sector from imminent collapse,” he said.

  • Owo Poly shut following ASUP’s protest

    The management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State, on Tuesday closed down the school.

    The Acting Registrar of the polytechnic, Mr Sule Atiku, said this in a press statement he released on Tuesday.

    He said that the management took the decision to avert any likely crises that might arise following the protest embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), RUGIPO chapter on Monday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the students of the institution were supposed to have started their first semester’s examinations for the 2018/2019 academic session on Monday, June 17, 2019.

    This was disrupted by ASUP’s protest.

    The Acting Registrar in the press statement on Tuesday said, “I have the mandate of the management to announce to the public that Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, is hereby closed down until further notice.

    “In view of this development, all students of the institution are hereby advised to vacate the institution not later than 3:00 p.m., today, Tuesday, June18, 2019.

    “This closure has become imperative in order for council and management to forestall any breakdown of law and order within the institution’s environment, “Atiku stated.

    Meanwhile, the Chairman of ASUP in the institution, Mr Oluwadare Ijawoye, told newsmen that the association was only expressing its grievances toward opposition, injustice and ill treatment from the school management.

    Ijawoye noted that the policies and decisions of the Acting Rector of the polytechnic, Mr Gani Ogundahunsi, were hostile and against the welfare of ASUP members in the school.

    He said that the management withheld almost N500 million out of N1.7 billion released by Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to offset nine months’ salary arrears and emoluments of the institution’s staff.

    According to him, courses in RUGIPO are on the verge of de-accreditation by the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE).

    He also stated the non-payment of staff salaries and emoluments as well as no promotion of staff for a long time as some of their grievances.

    The ASUP’s chairman, who said that it was disheartening that his members had not been promoted for three years, attributed the faults to Ogundahunsi-led management’s policies.

    He also accused the management of non-remittance of six-month salaries deduction, amounting to N630 million, to various cooperative societies in the school.

    While appreciating efforts of the state governor on improving standards of the institution, the chairman urged him to nip in the bud the alleged hostility of the school management to its staff.

    “Ogundahunsi-led management wants to cause crisis in RUGIPO and we are not going to allow it. He wants to sabotage the efforts of the governor.

    “We know that he is being used by some politicians to taint the integrity of Gov. Akeredolu but we have passed a vote of confidence on Mr Governor for his magnanimity toward education, especially, in RUGIPO,” he said.

    Ijawoye also advised the governor to appoint a substantive rector for the school, saying that the current acting rector was inexperienced and incapable to lead the polytechnic.

    He commended the students for their understanding as the union continued to fight for its rights.

  • ASUP threatens strike over FG’s failure to implement agreement

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has threatened to embark on a one week national strike over alleged failure of the Federal Government to implement the agreement it reached with the union recently.

    Mr Chris Nkoro, ASUP National Publicity Secretary, said the decision was taken during the 94th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union, held from Monday to Friday at the Shehu Idris College of Health Science and Technology, Makarfi, Kaduna State.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the union had early in February, suspended its two-month industrial action over non implementation of the said agreement by the federal government.

    Nkoro did not however say when the planned strike would commence.

    “The union views the persistent lethargic disposition of the Federal government and its agencies towards re-negotiation of FGN/ASUP agreement as a ploy to cripple the system and perpetuate suffering on members.

    “The NEC urges the federal government to without further delay, commence the re-negotiation process.

    “The NEC, sadly observed that while the union had agreed on the terms of enrolling of the sector into Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), some rectors have continued to use backhand ploy to enroll some institutions without recourse to our union’s documented peculiar concerns.

    “The NEC therefore calls on government to promptly call these erring rectors to order.

    “The NEC is unimpressed that shortfalls and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS) 15 migration challenges have persisted, even with continued assurances by government that this situation has been dealt with by government.

    “The NEC expects therefore that with the conclusion of the 2019 general election, these issues would be addressed squarely by the government immediately,” he said.

    Nkoro said that the Conditions in State Polytechnics/Monotechnics in terms of delay in payment of salaries, arrears of promotions, and other infractions were still sources of grave concern to the NEC.

    He said these situations still prevail in Abia, Kogi, Imo, Osun, Oyo, Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, Ekiti, Ondo and Zamfara.

    Nkoro therefore said that NEC had reiterated the firm invocation of the “no salary, no accreditation” policy on the institutions concerned and further urged that all cases of victimization should be adequately redressed immediately.

    He said the NEC had observed that some institutions, especially in the states were yet to key into the overall national interest on education.

    “It was disheartening that Shehu Idris College of Health Sciences and Technology Management in Makarfi has not implemented the 65 years retirement age, migration to CONPCASS, inadequate infrastructure, non-sponsorship of staff to conferences, and non-research grants.

    “The NEC had frowned at the shoddy process of appointing rectors in some polytechnics without due diligence.

    “This has become an embarrassment to the sector and does not guarantee industrial harmony in the sector, particularly, in the recently affected institutions; Bida and Ile Ile-Oluji.

    “The NEC therefore called on the Federal government to redress and rescind the decision, failure which the union will embark on a one week national strike.

    “ASUP is unrelenting in its strive towards continuously adding value to the Polytechnic system with constant dialogue and engagements with relevant stake holders in the sector, bearing in mind the welfare of both the members of our union and the Polytechnic system,” Nkoro said.

  • ASUP suspends two-month nationwide strike

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has suspended its two-month nationwide strike on Tuesday.

    This was announced by the National President of the union, Usman Dutse, at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Dutse said the union will not hesitate to resume the suspended strike should the government fail to review the Memorandum of Action and ensure full implementation before the end of May 2019.

    He added that this is in view of the progress made in the course of the union’s negotiations with the government.

    Dutse said, “We have hereby decided to suspend our two-month strike, this decision was taken at the end of our National Executive Council meeting.

    “We shall not hesitate to resume the suspended strike should the government fail to review the Memorandum of Action and ensure full implementation before the end of May 2019.

    “This is in view of the progress made in the course of the union’s negotiations with the government.

    “The NEC of the union, after exhaustive deliberations and in due consultations with the respective congresses across the nation resolved to suspend the current industrial action.

    “This is based on the condition that government commits to review the Memorandum of Action to concretise the resolutions and ensure its full implementation by the end of May 2019, failing which the union shall resume the action at its discretion.”

    Dutse also noted that the request for a revitalisation fund of N15 billion had been made by the Minister Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu in lieu of the NEEDS assessment.

    He said the government has equally made a public pronouncement on the issue conveying the government’s approval for the release of the sum as requested.

    “It is expected that the funds shall be made available for disbursement to deserving institutions by April 2019.

    “Equally, the approval of the NEEDS assessment report shall be pursued with all diligence to ensure a sustained and effective intervention in the infrastructure and other needs of our institutions,” he added.

    The union president also said on the issue of salary shortfall, promotion arrears and allowances that N16.7 billion has been released.

    According to him, the union was informed of the release of N16.7 billion covering agencies of government, including affected Polytechnics cleared by the Presidential Initiative for Continuous Audit for shortfalls and promotion arrears.

    “A circular had also been released to all Rectors conveying increased personnel funding for 2019 and directing the payment of full salaries and allowances in Polytechnics.

    “A schedule from the office of the Federal Ministry of Finance containing institutions contained in the phase one of the shortfall refund payments has been released.

    “Our union notes that 11 institutions from the sector are cleared to receive funds from the approved tranche. Our union has been reassured that the next phase will contain more institutions.

    “The government reported moves to review the instruments for accreditation to include such requirements. The union was informed that NBTE had been directed to cease further regulatory activities in such institutions.

    “Document conveying the implementation of this resolution has been released vide letter ref: C/TEB.97/Vol.II/512 of 4th February, 2019 from the NBTE conveying a review of the guidelines for programme accreditation to include the issue of regular payment of salaries and allowances in institutions,” he said.

    He said that it was equally resolved that the union be included in the multi-stakeholder forum involving proprietors of all public tertiary institutions to accommodate Polytechnics/Monotechnics.

    Dutse added that, it was agreed that the documents currently before the Head of Civil Service of the Federation be retrieved and reviewed to address the concerns of the union, and be presented to the board of the NBTE before the end of March, 2019 for approval.

  • ASUU, ASUP: FG releases N16.8bn to settle outstanding arrears

    ASUU, ASUP: FG releases N16.8bn to settle outstanding arrears

    The Federal Government has released N16.8 billion to settle outstanding salary arrears of staff in the country’s tertiary institutions.

    Malam Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education, who disclosed this during the“Sixth Edition of the Ministerial Press Briefing’’ in Abuja, said the disbursement is ongoing through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

    Adamu said that the government had resolved all issues and await the academic unions to also call off their strike in the coming days, especially ASUU and ASUP.

    Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has been on strike since December 12, while the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU) started Nov.4

    According to Adamu, the Federal Government has reached agreement in the following areas: Review of Polytechnic Act; government awaits the transmittal of the amended document by the National Assembly to Mr. President for his assent.

    Others, he said, were revitalisation of polytechnics and colleges of education, renegotiation of the 2010 agreements, saying that government is committed to the revitalisation of facilities in its public tertiary institutions.

    The minister also said that the government had directed the Minister of Finance to source for additional funding to the tune of N30 billion for the purpose, with particular reference to polytechnics and colleges of education.

    “Also for state owned polytechnics; the National Board for Technical Education has been directed to strengthen its regulatory mechanism including developing a new template for accreditation to address observed weaknesses.

    “And to ensure that proprietors of polytechnics including states and private owners meet their obligations to their staff.

    “Again as a demonstration of Government’s commitment to continuous dialogue with the staff unions, the ministry will provide alternative funding for the stalled renegotiations in the polytechnics sub- sector.

    “The National Board for Technical Education and the National Commission for Colleges of Education have also been directed to ensure compliance with the approved schedules of meetings with their respective Unions,’’ he said.

    Similarly, Adamu noted that the government team had reached agreement with ASUU, while hoping that academic activities will also resume in universities’ campuses across the country without further delay.

    He, however, commended the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) for calling off its strike to allow the students in colleges of education get back to academic activities.

     

  • Strike: NANS to commence mass action against FG, ASUU, ASUP January 7

    The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a noticed to all its structures and organs to commence mobilization for mass action against the federal government, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU, and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).

    This was contained in a statement signed by the association’s president, Danielson Akpan, on Sunday.

    The ASUU commenced a nationwide strike on November 4 after the lecturers accused the federal government of not implementing previous agreements.

    The association had earlier issued an ultimatum of two weeks to FG, ASUU and ASUP on December 23, to call off the strike or face confrontation.

    According to the correspondence, the association blamed the parties involved (FG, ASUU and ASUP) of not making appreciable steps in resolving the crises.

    Akpan accused the university lecturers of not showing enough commitment to end the strike, saying they staged a workout during negotiations with the government despite the latter meeting two out of their three demands.

    The three major issues, the NANS leader said, include the non-payment of some academic staff salaries shortfall, non-release of operational license for NUPEMCO (Nigerian Universities Pension Management Company), and non-payment of earned academic allowances.

    “The minor disagreement over figures in salaries shortfall which the FG claimed to be N15 billion as against ASUU’s N25 billion,” he said.

    “None of the issues mentioned above directly improves the lot of Nigerian students or infrastructure and basic amenities on our campuses. Again, the question, why are Nigerian Students made to suffer for the interests of ASUU or ASUP which doesn’t improve lots of Nigerian students arises,” Mr Akpan said.

    He urged all structures and organs of the NANS to begin meetings and mobilisation immediately ahead of the mass action commencing on January 7, 2019.

  • ASUP chairman lauds Lagos Govt on Yoruba preservation law

    Mr Nureni Yekini, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics ,(ASUP), Yaba College of Technology chapter, has commended the Lagos State Government’s efforts in preserving Yoruba Language from going into extinction.

    Yekini gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Wednesday.

    He said that Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s action on the matter was a welcome development and would keep Yoruba Language in its pride of place.

    NAN reports that Ambode had on Feb.12 signed the Yoruba Language Preservation and Promotion Bill into law.

    The law makes it compulsory for all candidates seeking admission into all tertiary institutions in the state to have at least a credit in Yoruba Language.

    It states that the teaching of Yoruba Language is now compulsory in both the private and public schools in the state.

    Law also mandates all the state-owned tertiary institutions to integrate the use of the language as a course unit into their General Nigeria Studies (GNS).

    Yekini said: “Well, I must be sincere with you; they have acted in the right direction.

    “There is one problem we are having in this country which is lack of respect for our culture and languages.

    “This is a country with multiple languages, but our children do not speak our language and parents also look away.

    “We all need to learn the rudiment of a particular brand. Yoruba is the mother tongue in Lagos, so it must be widely used.

    “There is need for everybody to understand some parts, rudiments of other languages across the country.”

    He, however, said that it was not appropriate to denial people admission into the state’s institutions because of the law.

    “The Lagos State Government has done something very good, but not to the extent of saying you will not be admitted into higher institutions, if you don’t get credit in Yoruba.

    “It will not be palatable enough, but it is advisable that we promote our language.

    “It is not appropriate to say people must get credit pass in Yoruba Language before they can get admission into any of the state higher institutions.

    “No, I don’t support that, but everybody must learn all the languages we have in Nigeria, especially the three major ones- Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba.

    “I am a Yoruba man. I speak Hausa to some extent; I speak Igbo to some extent. It is very important to learn more than one language.

    “I speak Igbo Language to some extent because I cannot just get to the East and become complete novice about the language there, but the level government has taken it to is now too much,” he said.

    The ASUP chairman called for the adoption of the mother tongue to teach in higher institution for better performance.

    He said research had shown that teaching children with the mother tongue aides better understanding.

    “About 65 per cent of institutions in India adopt indigenous languages for communication. In China, the same thing, but here we want to die because of English.

    “It depends on how communication comes up, you cannot force me to speak English the way the Queen of England speaks English. Queen cannot speak Yoruba the way I speak Yoruba.

    “It is a terrible thing. It’s good for us to at least help our children to speak our language, but this thing is not government that can just do it.
    “We have to start from the grassroots; some parents are not helping our children; we don’t speak our language to our children at home,” he said.

  • Unionism: Bello bans activities of NLC, SSANU, NASU, ASUP, others in Kogi institutions

    Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Wednesday announced the ban on the activities of Joint Action Committee (JAC) of trade unions and all forms of trade unionism in state-owned tertiary institutions.

    Bello, who made the announcement in a broadcast in Lokoja on Wednesday accused trade unionism in tertiary institutions of impeding government holistic reforms.

    He said he had respect for the rights of all citizens to responsibly associate and pursue their welfare within the ambits of the law and norms of a democratic society.

    The governor said his administration had made tremendous progress in resolving all issues relating to adequacy and frequency of remuneration for all categories of Civil Servants in the State.

    He reiterated his respect for the rights of labour unions in relations to the responsibilities of the owners and proprietors of tertiary academic institutions.

    Bello, however, regretted that the state-owned tertiary institutions’ trade unionism had let itself to impeding government’s efforts to carry out “holistic reforms in the civil service through its unjustified industrial actions.

    “The branch of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) in Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has proceeded on yet another strike for alleged non-payment of salaries and emoluments irrespective of clear evidence of government’s good faith and efforts contradicting JAC’s position,” he said.

    The governor said there was evidence of massive embezzlement at Kogi State Polytechnic’s earnings in excess of N157m committed under JAC’s nose.

    Bello assured that his government remained committed to meeting its obligations to all genuine employees of the state as promptly as available resources would permit.

    “Government will work to ensure uninterrupted academic calendar, henceforth, in all basic education, secondary and tertiary academic institutions in Kogi State.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, and except where specified otherwise, references herein to the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of Trade Unions of Tertiary Institutions owned by Kogi State are referred to:

    “The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU). The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP). The Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU). The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and The Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (SSUCOEN).

    “Others are the National Associations of Academic Technologists (NAAT) and any other Union operating in any tertiary Institutions owned by the Kogi State Government,” he said.

     

    NAN