We will continue strike despite offers from govt, polytechnic teachers say

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) said on Friday that the ongoing strike by the polytechnic teachers across the country will be sustained despite their meetings with the Federal Government and offers made to the union.

Giving an update on the nationwide strike, ASUP President, Anderson Ezeibe, declared that the union received offers from the government during their meetings for the release of an infrastructure revitalisation fund of N15 billion for the sector and the release of owed 10 months arrears of the new minimum wage within a yet to be determined period.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja, Ezeibe, however, said the offers made by the government so far were not enough for them to suspend the strike.

He disclosed that the leadership of the union presented the offers to the National Executive Council (NEC) of the union, who after due consideration, resolved to continue and sustain the strike.

“Following the consideration of the offers as presented, the NEC of our union resolved to sustain the strike action until the unresolved details in the offer are sorted out in the meeting(s) expected in the coming days,” Ezeibe said.

He added: “NEC also resolved that Nasarawa, Benue, Abia, Edo and Kaduna state governments should equally be encouraged to engage representatives of the union like the earlier referred states on issues of owed salaries and non-implementation of promotions in affected institutions.”

He explained that some of the issues in contention were still hanging even after the two meetings held with the government, just as he pointed out that there was no concrete evidence on the release of N15 billion infrastructure revitalisation fund and the 10 months arrears of the new minimum wage owed the workers.

He stated that they would want the funds dropped or sure approval before the union can consider suspending the strike.

The ASUP president, however, pointed out that the meetings held on the 6 and 14 of April recorded some gains, adding, “immediate gains recorded within this period include the reconstitution and inauguration of governing councils of all Federal Polytechnics in the country (dissolved since May, 2020) thereby completing the governance structures of the institutions as captured by law.