The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has sent a stern warning to the Nigerian government and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), issuing a 15-day ultimatum that could bring polytechnics across the nation to a standstill. Starting October 7, the ultimatum ends on October 20, with the union threatening a full-blown strike if its long-standing demands are not met.
ASUP, through its Zone C Coordinator, Nurudeen Masopa, delivered the ultimatum after a heated National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. The union is calling on the government to address its demands swiftly, warning that failure to do so could spark a "forthcoming struggle" as the union gears up for mass action.
Among the union's grievances is the National Board for Technical Education’s alleged refusal to honor a series of agreements reached in July 2024, during a tripartite meeting involving the Ministry of Education, NBTE, and ASUP. ASUP accuses the NBTE of dragging its feet on the reviewed 2023 Scheme of Service, signaling a lack of commitment to resolving critical issues in the polytechnic system.
The union also alleges the NBTE has overstepped its bounds by undermining the authority of polytechnic academic boards in student admissions, accusing the board of seeking to "commercialize the process." This, the union says, could cripple the autonomy of polytechnics.
Adding fuel to the fire, ASUP highlights the failure to implement the promised 25% and 35% salary adjustments for state polytechnic staff, despite the policy being in effect since January 2023. Shockingly, polytechnic staff in Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Kwara states have yet to see any of these pay hikes, with the union accusing state governments of deliberately stalling payments.
The union is also furious about the non-payment of arrears for the federal institutions, covering January to December 2023. ASUP members have been waiting for nearly a year, and patience is running thin.
But the grievances don’t stop there. ASUP has uncovered what it describes as "blatant violations" of the Polytechnic Act (2019), citing irregularities in appointing principal officers in several institutions. The union also decries the decade-long delay in settling the CONTISS 15 Migration Arrears for Lower Cadre staff, accusing the authorities of negligence.
In a scathing statement, ASUP blasted the government for neglecting infrastructural needs in public polytechnics, pointing to the non-release of funds for the 2023 NEEDS Assessment intervention. The union is also demanding the immediate payment of promotion arrears, which have been pending for three to five years in some federal polytechnics, as well as swift action to resolve promotion delays in state institutions.
ASUP has called on the Oyo State government to immediately constitute governing councils in its polytechnics, warning that the absence of these councils has paralyzed the administration of several institutions.
The union has warned that the consequences of inaction could be dire, calling on all members to prepare for a massive showdown if their demands are not met.
