The leadership of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has directed its members to resume their duty posts on Monday.
This comes after the expiration of a two-week strike embarked upon on May 16.
Abdullahi Yalwa, National Publicity Secretary of ASUP, who announced this in Abuja at a press briefing explained that the decision was reached at another National Executive Council meeting held to evaluate how their demands have been attended to.
Yalwa said four of their nine demands have been met by the federal government, adding that the suspension of the warning strike was to give the concerned authorities a window and benefit of doubts to address other demands.
He listed commencement of payment of arrears of the new minimum wage in all affected Federal Polytechnics as part of the demands that have been met.
According to him, isolated cases of underpayment and omissions are being handled at institution levels, adding that approval and release of regulatory instruments for accreditation of institutions, management and programmes.
He stressed that four regulatory instruments that address issues around accreditation activities which were reviewed in 2021 were approved and released to the public through the NBTE website.
Yalwa explained that this issue shall provide a policy framework to address the challenges in state owned institutions, noting that already, implementation is on as a decision has been taken on the situation in Abia State Polytechnic where salaries are owed for 34 months.
He said, ”The proprietor (Abia State Government) has been duly communicated. A decision has also been taken on the vexed issue of victimization of union officials in Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu where 5 of our officers were dismissed due to their participation in the 2017 strike of the Union.
”The issue of continued infractions in the Federal Polytechnics Act as typified by the release of a contentious template for appointment of principal officers by the Federal Ministry of Education was also handled as the document is due to be withdrawn as agreed.”
However, ASUP spokesman listed continued delay in the appointment of substantive Rectors for Federal Polytechnics in Mubi, Offa, and Kaduna as parts of the outstanding issued that are yet to be addressed.
He added, ”Release of the approved N15Bn revitalization fund for the sector. This issue is still stuck in the Federal Ministry of Finance with a promise of follow up action by the Education ministry.
”Release of arrears of CONTISS 15 migration for the lower cadre. This issue is still at the Committee level set up to resolve the dispute on the contested 2014/15 verification report.
”Release of the Scheme of Service and Conditions of Service: The document is still awaiting approval as it has been recalled from the Head of Service for further review.
”Resolution of issues with members in Colleges of Agriculture: The issue is still pending as a resolution will require an interface between the Education ministry and Agriculture ministry.
”The 2 weeks definite strike of the Union will be rounding off on the 29th of May, 2022 as agreed by the emergency meeting of NEC.”
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