ASUP Declares Immediate Strike Over New Salary Scheme

Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has declared a strike, demanding the implementation of a new salary scheme for polytechnic lecturers.

According to the union, the industrial action kicks off on Tuesday, April 6th.

ASUP leaders made the strike declaration today after a meeting with Federal Government officials in Abuja.

Aside from the new salary scheme, the union is also demanding payment of salaries and promotion allowances owed lecturers by some state governments.

National President of ASUP, Anderson Ezeibe while insisting that strike will go on, however, noted that the union will be open for dialogue with the Federal Government to resolve the issues raised.

It would be recalled that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), had earlier in March threatened to embark on an industrial action across the country and also withdraw services of its members on April 6, 2021.

The National President of the union, Mr. Anderson Ezeibe made the disclosure after the successful completion of the ASUP 99th National Executive Council Meeting held at the Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina.

At the heart of the strike according to the union’s leader was the nine basic needs of the union.

He said the need to release the 10 months in arrears of the new minimum wage owed its members in Federal Polytechnics and the implementation of same in the several States yet to implement the new minimum wage.

Others are implementation of the contents of the Needs Assessment Report of 2014 in public Polytechnics and like institutions.

Reconstitute governing councils in all Federal Polytechnics and in state-owned Polytechnics where such is yet to be constituted.

Release owed Staff salaries in Abia, Ogun, Osun, Benue, Plateau, Edo, and the Cross River States and implement full salary payments in Sokoto, Kaduna, Adamawa, and other institutions with such reports.

Release of promotion arrears in Federal Polytechnics and payment of same as well as annual increments in Adamawa, Plateau, and other states with similar cases.

Withdrawal of the letter containing spurious, incoherent, and unsubstantiated claims of PAYE tax liabilities in 19 Federal Polytechnics.

Ensure full implementation of the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act as well as its domestication in Adamawa, Kano, Sokoto, Abia, Niger, and other states affected.

Stop attempts at forcing the ASUP members in colleges of Agriculture out of the union.

Implement the 65 years retirement age for academic Staff in state-owned institutions like in Kano, Kaduna, and other state institutions in the country.