The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) on Thursday said its members would join its University counterpart in the strike ongoing strike action if challenges associated with the implementation of Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) is not addressed by federal government.
President of ASUP, Anderson Ezeobe, told journalists in Abuja that the 15-day ultimatum issued by the union before lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic remain valid.
Ezeoba noted that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union has already directed various chapters to hold congresses and take drastic decision on the way forward on issue of IPPIS.
According to him, the union organ had met to review the situation regarding the way forward and the manner in which the implementation of IPPIS has surcharged members of the union.
The unionist warned that the ASUP would not give further notice to government on the issue, stressing that government is not sincere despite assurances that the issue will be resolve.
According to him, “We can’t be giving an ultimatum and be repeating an ultimatum; we decided to go back on our congress to take a referendum, because we have to educate our congress.
“The trade union is an epitome of democracy, so we are taking the matter to our congress to say, this is what has happened and the same way, we will explain to our chairmen, and they’ll take the matter back to congress and then our congress will decides on the direction to take.
“We understand that the pandemic has altered a lot of dynamics and so with the feedback we get from our members, we can come back and say, we are shutting down or giving a particular date. So we are waiting for directives that will come from our congress.”
Speaking on the resumption of schools, Comrade Anderson said the union would hold government responsible if anything happens to her members and the polytechnic community.
He maintained that there is nothing on ground regarding NCDC protocol for government to direct for school resumption.
