ASUP Strike: Nigeria polytechnic may resume next week, lecturers hold crucial meeting
By Suleiman Bello
National executives of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, will meet on Thursday to review the ongoing strike and negotiations between the union and the Federal Government and possibly end the strike.
NigerianEcho reliably learnt there have been positive negotiations between the leadership of ASUP and the federal government. Information has it that, next meeting briefing of the union EXCO by the negotiating team may bring positive result.
The ASUP National Publicity secretary, Clement Chairman, while confirming the meeting siad: “We are meeting to appraise the level of negotiation and to also decide on the next line of action.”
Last meeting of the association, which was facilitated by House of Reps committee on Education was held at the National Assembly on May 27 between lecturers and the government delegation led by the Education Minister, Nyesom Wike.
Minister at the meeting said that the major contention of the workers, which is their salary arrears, was not being addressed because a government agency had raised concerns.
He said the Salaries, Wages and Income Commission was opposed to the payment of arrears owed the lecturers, saying it was not consulted before the 2009 CONTISSS agreement between the lecturers and the federal government was reached
“As the ministry made proposal to settle the lecturers’ arrears owed since 2009 in installments, the commission wrote to kick against the plan.
“Government has been meeting on what to do, but the commission opposes the proposal I made to pay the arrears in installment.” Wike said.
The minister at the meeting revealed that a technical committee had been set up by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Pius Anyim, to review crisis.
He also assured the union that the Federal Government would resolve the on-going strike, saying it was deploying all means to reach an agreement with the ASUP as well as striking lecturers of the colleges of education, COEASU.
ASUP has been on strike since October 4, 2013. The union’s demands include the need for the constitution of the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics, the migration of the lower cadres on the CONTISS 15 salary scale, the release of the White Paper on the Visitations to Federal Polytechnics, and the need for the commencement of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Polytechnics.
