We won’t end strike action now - ASUP
- There are no plans to end the ongoing ASUP strike, the union has said
- The nation president of ASUP said the FG has failed to release the N15 billion revitalisation fund promised Nigerian polytechnics in 2017
- According to Usman Dutse, ASUP is disappointed by the actions of the FG
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has said that it would not be ending its ongoing strike action.
ASUP said its decision to continue with the strike follows the failure of the Federal Government to release the N15 billion revitalisation fund promised Nigerian polytechnics in 2017.
Punch reports that the national president of ASUP, Usman Dutse, while speaking in an interview said in the 2009 agreement, the Federal Government had promised about N603 billion to polytechnics but it was agreed in 2017, that due to paucity of funds N15 billion should be released as commitment to the agreement.
Dutse said the union had on January 10, hoped for positive responses from the government but was met with disappointments.
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“In the report of the NEEDS assessment carried out, the government initially promised to release N603bn to polytechnics for revitalisation," Dutse said.
"Because of the long delay, the prices of items changed and there were new public polytechnics established, so the money was reviewed to over N800 billion. At the time there was no clear roadmap by the government on how to allocate the money to the institutions in tranches.
“But in 2017, at the last agreement, the government said it was facing paucity of funds and other economic challenges, therefore it would commit itself to a revalisation fund of N20 billion to universities, N15 billion to polytechnics and N15 billion to colleges of education.
“But in 2017, at the last agreement, the government said it was facing paucity of funds and other economic challenges, therefore it would commit itself to a revalisation fund of N20 billion to universities, N15 billion to polytechnics and N15 billion to colleges of education. It is one of the main reasons for our agitation,” Dutse added.
Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that workers at the Ibarapa Polytechnic, Eruwa, on Wednesday, July 18, commenced an indefinite strike over non-payment of salaries, poor welfare and non-accreditation of courses.
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The three unions in the institution are involved in the strike.
They are the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).
Parents advice government over ASUU strike - on Legit.ng TV
Source: Legit.ng
