The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has given the federal government an ultimatum of month end to meet the demands of their members or the union would embark on nationwide indefinite strike.
President of ASUP, Comrade Usman Yusuf Dutse, stated their demands to include inadequate infrastructure in polytechnics across the country, inadequate funding and the need for the review of Polytechnics Acts which are outdated. Also mentioned are the implementation and payment of salary arrears of 2012 consolidated tertiary institutions salary structure (Contiss), 2010 Contiss agreememt with the federal government which was not captured in the 2016 budget as the committee set up to review it in 2014 was yet to submit its report.
He further stated that government needs to tackle the issue of university/polytechnic dichotomy as according to him bachelors degree and Higher National Degree (HND) holders should be treated equally in terms of promotion and considerations for appointments in the civil service.
ASUP President added that the newly introduced Treasury Single Account (TSA) by the government should not include tertiary institutions due to their peculiar nature, hence the need for them to be exempted.
“We cannot efficiently operate with the TSA platform because it is cumbersome, so it is not good for tertiary institutions” he said.
