The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has announced a two-week warning strike starting December 2, 2024, due to the government’s failure to address its eleven key demands. ASUP President, Kpanja Shamnah, made the announcement during a briefing at the conclusion of the union’s 112th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.
ASUP had previously issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and relevant agencies, urging them to review and reverse decisions that contradict the Polytechnics Act and other governance frameworks in the sector. Kpanja explained that the union’s NEC had reviewed the ongoing issues affecting public polytechnics, colleges of technology, and monotechnics across the country.
He stated, “Our 111th NEC meeting set a 15-day deadline for the government to address the challenges threatening the progress of the sector, or face industrial action from our members nationwide.” The union’s concerns include the disregard of the Federal Polytechnics Act, state edicts, and other regulations, particularly around the appointment of principal officers at federal and state polytechnics. Recent examples of such violations include the controversial appointments at Federal Polytechnic Nekede and Federal Polytechnic Wannune, where due process was not followed.
Other unresolved issues include the non-review of the suspended Schemes of Service for Polytechnics, the non-release of the 2023 NEEDS Assessment intervention funds, and the interference of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in polytechnic admissions. Additionally, ASUP highlighted the failure of most state-owned polytechnics to implement the 35/25 percent salary review and the delay in paying arrears in federal polytechnics.
After a thorough review, the NEC resolved to initiate a two-week warning strike from December 2, 2024. Kpanja warned that this would serve as a final reminder to the government to address the listed issues, or risk facing an indefinite strike in the future.
