The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has urged the FG and state governments to pay outstanding arrears of the minimum wage to its members as contained in the Memorandum of Action (MoA).
This was disclosed in a statement by the Union’s National Publicity Secretary Mr Abdullahi Yelwa, on Sunday in Bauchi, after its 101st Regular ASUP National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State.
They revealed that there have been delays in the approval of its N15 billion Revitalisation Fund, nonpayment of salaries to its members in some state-owned institutions, and non-commencement of the renegotiation of the 2010 agreement.
What ASUP said
ASUP equally expressed dismay at recent reports of infractions in the process of appointment of Principal Officers in Federal Polytechnics and some state-owned polytechnics in disregard to the provisions in the extant laws.
The union particularly noted the events at the Federal Polytechnics, Ekowe, Offa and Mubi, where the process of appointment of Rectors was flawed, leading to the shortlisting of unqualified persons.
“The union notes that the council affairs in Federal Polytechnics, Oko, Offa, Auchi and Kaura Namoda has been relocated to the FCT without due consideration to the cost implication on the institutions, safety of staff and sensitive documents as well as general administration of the affected institutions,” they stated further.
Yelwa enjoined members of the public to hold the government responsible in the event of the breakdown of industrial harmony, adding that the union and its members had shown considerable patience and restraint.
“In view of the unsatisfactory status of implementation of the MoA signed between the union and government in April 2021.
“The union demanded that the government should without further delay ensure the release of the arrears of the Minimum Wage to staff and release the approved Revitalisation Fund for the sector.
They also urged that Government should set up the implementation committee to administer the fund, recommence the renegotiation of the union’s 2010 agreement and withdraw institutional accreditation to state-owned institutions where staff are owed salaries.
“The union equally urged the government to revisit the appointment processes for principal officers in Federal Polytechnics, Ekowe, Offa and Mubi, to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act,” they said.
In case you missed it
Recall that Nairametrics reported last month that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) urged the National Assembly to amend the National Universities Commission Act in a bid to address the underfunding of several state universities in Nigeria, and also, the high tuition fees of state universities.
They also urged the Federal Government to sign and implement the draft ASUU/FGN renegotiated agreement of May 2021, in addition to the release of the first tranche of the N30 billion fund for the revitalization of public universities.