The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to address several unresolved issues affecting polytechnic education in the country.
The union has warned that if their demands are not met, they may begin an industrial action that would disrupt academic activities nationwide.
According to Persecondnews, one of the union’s primary demands is the establishment of the National Polytechnics Commission, a dedicated regulatory body similar to those for universities and colleges of education.
ASUP has voiced disappointment over what it calls “delays in the legislative process” needed to create this commission.
During a press briefing in Abuja, ASUP President Mr. Shammah Kpanja urged the Federal Ministry of Education to quickly send the executive bill for the commission to the National Assembly.
He also criticized the practice of using outside consultants for accreditation, raising concerns about the qualifications of some of the contractors involved.
ASUP reiterated its long-standing concern over the disparity in the treatment of Higher National Diploma(HND) holders compared to university degree holders.
The union said this persistent discrimination undermines the morale of polytechnic graduates in the workforce and hampers the sector’s development.
Kpanja further lamented the economic hardship facing polytechnic lecturers and criticised the government’s delay in fulfilling its commitments under the 2010 ASUP-FGN agreement.
These include the payment of the Peculiar Academic Allowance and the full implementation of the 25-35% salary review, which ASUP claims has not yet been effected despite being captured in the national budget.
The union also cited the removal of certain allowances from the federal budget and what it described as inadequate follow-through from relevant agencies, including the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and the Federal Ministry of Education.
According to ASUP, the situation is even more dire in state-owned polytechnics, where the implementation of the N70,000 national minimum wage is still pending in many states.
The union also expressed dismay over the delay in releasing the second tranche of the approved NEEDS Assessment intervention fund, adding that a review of the utilisation of the first tranche has yet to be conducted.
In addition, ASUP voiced concern over the government’s current quality assurance model in polytechnics, calling for a more transparent and professionally managed process that ensures educational integrity and value.
The union also stressed the need to reconstitute negotiations on the 2010 ASUP-FGN agreement, especially regarding longstanding demands such as the payment of CONTISS 15 arrears and promotion arrears — some of which reportedly date back to 2014 and 2019, respectively.
Highlighting what it views as a lack of progress on multiple fronts, ASUP’s National Executive Council resolved to issue a 21-day ultimatum to the federal government.
“The union may be compelled to declare a trade dispute and withdraw services across public polytechnics and monotechnics nationwide should these issues remain unresolved,” the ASUP leadership warned.
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