Polytechnics Give FG One Month to Pay N800 billion NEEDS Assessment of 2014 - Redeem Over 2 Years Minimum Wage Arrears

Daily Rendezvous

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, (ASUP) has issued a one month warning to the president Muhammadu Buhari led APC government to urgently keep its promise of releasing N15 billion revitalization funds it promised the union or it will be faced with strike action by the union.

The union said, its staff are also owed minimum wages backlog dating back to 31st December, 2019.

The national president of the Union, Anderson Ezeibe made this known at a press briefing at the end of its 102nd NEC meeting held at the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Thursday, in Adamawa state.

While condemning the actions of the federal government, the union said, it is not in the character of the union to embark on frivolous strike action but it is hesitate to embark on a strike and stay as long as it takes until the federal government responds to its demand.

Decrying the state of decay at polytechnics in the country, the national president of ASUP, Anderson Ezeibe said, the NEEDS assessment of the challenges of Polytechnics in the.country was estimated in 2014 at about N800 billion and that amount hasbeen devalued by inflation yet it has not been met and even the N15 billion first trench promised by the federal government to address critical infrastructure decay in Polytechnics across the country has not been  released nine months after agreement was reached.

Ezeibe laments that polytechinc staff in the country have been owed minimum wage arrears since December 31st, 2019 and despite the president's directives for payment of the arrears for all ministries, departments and parastatals, its union member are yet to paid.

The ASUP president while outlining the polytechincs ordeals said there has been a, "Sustained infraction in the implementation of the provisions of the Federal Polytechnic Acts as amended in 2019, following the signing into law of the Federal polytechnic Acts."

He further adds that, the non release of the reviewed  normative instruments for institution/management and programs accreditation in view of the large disparity in governance platforms, management practices, as well as, conditions of service in the sectoris yet to be implemented. This failure has led to a reckless establishment of Polytechnics under the proprietorship of state governments withoit the requisite finding, training and relevant infrastructure.

He said, "We have continued to witness delays in the appointment of Rectors of some federal polytechincs. Federal polytechnic Mubi remains without a suabtansive Rector for over two years, Kaduna Polytechnic, Federal polytechnic Offa and Federal polytechinc Ekowe have also been operating without a substantive rector.

"Non release of the scheme of service for polytechinc since, 2017."

The union said, it is tired of the situation where hired mercenaries are imported from outside the Polytechnic system to stifle the polytechnic system.

ASUP called on the federal government to swiftly keep its promise or face the wrath of the polytechnic as ASUP is ready to embark on a prolonged strike action since it is the only language the federal government understands.