Like ASUU, ASUP says it will shut down polytechnics nationwide from May 16

BY SAM OGBEIFUN

Another strike in the nation’s polytechnics is looming as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) has threatened to shut down the schools as from Monday, May 16.

While members of Academic Staff  Union of Nigeria Universities (ASUU) have extended their ongoing strike by another 12 weeks, ASUP said its warning strike will last two weeks.

Rising from a one-day meeting in Abuja, the union threatened to down tools and commence indefinite strike if after the two-week warning strike the demands of its members are not met on or before 16th May, 2022.

Briefing newsmen after the emergency meeting of the union, the National President of ASU, Anderson Ezeibe reeled out the union’s demands to include: non-release of the N15 billion revitalization fund approved about 11 months ago and non-payment of the arrears of the new minimum wage.

Others are sustained infraction in the implementation of the provision of the Federal Polytechnic Act as amended in 2019, delays in the appointment of Rectors for some of the polytechnics, non-release of the scheme for polytechnics, and continued victimization of the union officials.

Ezeibe, however, expressed the hope that the meeting of the union’s Executive committee with the federal government representatives fixed for tomorrow may be the last to the planned strike.