Published 13th May, 2022

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) is set to embark on a 14-day warning strike on Monday.

On Wednesday, the union released a statement faulting the federal government for failing to keep to a Memorandum of Action (MoA) both parties signed on June 10, 2021.

FIJ also learned that ASUP, among other things, is demanding the release of N15 billion revitalisation fund approved by President Muhammadu Buhari in July 2021 and the payment of close to N19 billion, being arrears due on the new minimum wage approved in 2019.

Monday Ojo, chairman, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) chapter of the union, told FIJ on Friday that ASUP’s national executive council (NEC) held an emergency meeting on Wednesday and decided to start the strike.

“Non-release of arrears of the new minimum wage: The owed 10 months arrears for the polytechnics is yet to be released. The composite amount covering all federal tertiary institutions to the approximate figure of N19 billion currently exists as an AIE in the Accountant General’s office,” the statement reads in part.

When FIJ asked if the union had hopes of a swift resolution with the federal government despite the resignation of Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, Minister of State for Education, Ojo said, “Well, government is a continuum. We will discuss and see”.

The strike will commence on Monday, a week after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) extended its strike action by three months.

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