Lecturers under the auspices of Academic Staff Union Of Polytechnics (ASUP) have suspended their 65-day old strike.
National Publicity Secretary of ASUP, Abdullahi Yalwa, who announced this, said the union suspended the strike following an appraisal of the report indicating the gradual implementation of the items contained in the Memorandum of Action signed between the Union and the Federal Government.
Lecturers had on April 6 embarked on an indefinite strike to press home their demands which border on the failure of the government to address the sorry state of polytechnics and monotechnic and the expiration of the ultimatum issued since March 2020.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, Yalwa explained that the union is not in anyway calling off the strike but suspending it for a period of three months to enable the government execute the items contained in the Memorandum of Action signed with the Union on 27th April, 2021.
The Union directed all its members to resume on Thursday, saying it looked into the appeals made by the government, revered traditional stools in the country, members of the National Assembly, Chairmen of Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics and indeed members of the public who showed varied interests in the matter.
Yalwa said, ”As part of the efforts communicated by the Federal Ministry of Education, certain items have been fulfilled like the reconstitution and inauguration of governing councils and visitation panels in Nigerian Federal Polytechnics while we are led to believe that the release of funds for infrastructure revitalization and minimum wage arrears is currently being processed.
”Other items include the ongoing efforts at the review of the Scheme of Service and Conditions of Service for Polytechnics as well as the commencement of work towards resolution of the issues around CONTISS 15 migration arrears for the lower cadre.
”We also acknowledge the recent passage of the Bill for removal of the dichotomy against HND holders in the country.
”In reaching the decision to suspend the strike, our Union took into cognizance the appeals made by the government, revered traditional stools in the country, members of the National Assembly, Chairmen of Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics and indeed members of the public who showed varied interests in the matter.”
The union expressed optimism that the suspension of its action will provide an enabling environment for the government to fulfill other aspects of the Memorandum of Action and afford the government an opportunity to reverse its trust deficit within our sector.
