ASUP to resume strike on Friday

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has resolved to resume its suspended strike on October 4, 2013 due to what the union referred to as the insincerity of the Federal Government towards honouring its agreement.
The Union passed a vote of no confidence on the National Board for Technical Education due to its inability to meet the needs and demands of polytechnic education in the country, calling for the immediate establishment of a National Polytechnics Commission, which would cater for the needs of the sector.
These were part of the resolutions reached at the 75th National Executive Council of ASUP meeting held at the Federal Polytechnic, Bida in Niger State.
The NEC meeting ended on Saturday.
In a communique signed by its Publicity Secretary, Clement Selchum, ASUP thanked all stakeholders and Nigerians for their sustained support to save polytechnic education from total collapse in the country.
The communique reads in part: “In view of the continued insincerity of Government in honouring the agreement reached with ASUP, NEC resolves that the union will resume its suspended strike with effect from 4th October 2013.
“NEC sincerely appreciates the good people of Nigeria and all other stakeholders in the education sector for their sustained support in its struggles to save the polytechnic education from total collapse in Nigeria.”
The Union described as frustrating the inability of the Federal Government to fulfill any of the promises and agreements reached with the union before the suspension of the strike on July 17, 2013.
The members of the union called on the Federal Government to immediately address all the outstanding issues of the NEEDS assessment of the polytechnics and the corresponding funding, constitution of the governing councils of the remaining federal polytechnics, CONTISS 15 migration for the lower cadres and removal of disparity between HND and Degree certificates amongst others.
ASUP further observed the growing tension in the nation’s polity as a result of the volatile comments and activities of politicians and interest groups calling for caution and restraints in their utterances and actions.
“The Nigerian political class and other interest groups should exercise restraints on their utterances and activities in the interest of the peace, unity and security of the nation,” the communique read.