The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic

  • Who cares about ASUU, ASUP strike?

    In the unlikely event that the representatives of the federal government is able to reach an agreement with the striking lecturers in public universities and polytechnics, at the next meetings fixed for early next year,  the campuses  will remain closed nationwide for a long time to come.

    The lecturers have indicated that they are not ready to budge unless the federal government agrees and commence the implementation of the memorandum of understanding dating back to 2009 and 2013 for Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and 2016 with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP).

    Despite warning strikes by the unions, their demands were not taken seriously enough until they made good their threats to stay away from classrooms and leave the students with the disrupted academic sessions.

    All meetings held so far between government and ASUU officials have ended in deadlock with both sides accusing each other of one thing or the other.

    According to ASUU President, Professor Biodun Ogunyemi, the federal government has not shown clear commitment in resolving all the affected issues and appears to have adopted the ‘keep-them-talking’ strategy.

    “Through its press interactions, government through its representatives had falsely raised the hope of the Nigerian public on the state of discussion with our union. Our expectation from a very responsive and sincere government is that by now, all outstanding issues would have been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties. Unfortunately, government is yet to show sincerity in addressing the problem,” Ogunyemi stated.

    Contrary to ASUU’s claim, the Minister of Labour is hopeful that the strike will soon be called off based on consideration of some of the union’s demands, including the submission of the union’s list of outstanding payments, and the identification of some areas in the universities in need of revitalisation as contained in the signed 2009 agreement.

    The negotiation with the ASUP is not different with another meeting scheduled for January 10 after an earlier inconclusive one.

    While the unresolved issues predate the current administration, it is unfortunate that the situation has degenerated to the present state where there is no guarantee of how soon an agreement will be reached to save the universities and polytechnics from further deterioration.

    Despite claims of education being a major focus of successive administrations since 1999, allocations to the sector has not matched the huge requirements of the sector. Necessary facilities and resources for higher education have not been provided, while basic payments for lecturers have been denied them.

    The cumulative effect is of years of neglect and poor teaching is that the quality of graduates from our tertiary institutions has continued to deteriorate. More than ever before, graduates are becoming unemployable and can’t justify the certificate they get on graduation.

    Everything necessary must be done to reverse the shameful slide in the quality of education at all levels in the country. The present administration must show more commitment to honour previous agreements with the lecturers and ensure a quick resolution of the deadlock.

    Even if it cannot pay all the outstanding payments, it must not ignore the legitimate demands of the lecturers who deserve better conditions of service to be able to effectively discharge their crucial duties.

  • Panel reports: Ondo Poly’s ASUP seek release of White Paper

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) at Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, at the weekend called for immediate release of the White Paper on various panels’ reports on the state-owned institution.

    The union decried the prolonged delay in the release of the documents, calling for their immediate implementation.

    In a 16-point communique issued after its emergency meeting in Owo and signed by its Chairman, R. O. Ijawoye, and General Secretary, Arikawe Ade, ASUP also condemned the non-payment of 10-month salary arrears owed the polytechnic workers.

    ASUP described the development as insensitivity, adding that the situation had led to the deaths of many workers in the polytechnic due to their inability to foot their medical bills as a result of financial incapacitation.

    The communique reads: “We are also much disturbed by non-payment of 16-month migration arrears owed staff of the institution which depicts extreme callousness, we are now calling for its immediate payment.”

    The union kicked against what it called inadequate release of only N100 million by the state government for accreditation of over 40 academic programmes, adding: “We will not condone the use of fund for no other thing except accreditation/reaccreditation of courses.”

    It said academic workers would be held responsible for failure of the exercise.

    ASUP also regretted the poor state of infrastructure on the campus and called for appropriate processing and utilisation of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) meant for staff development.

    On the recent student unrest in the institution, ASUP charged the management to compensate those whose properties were destroyed having collected reparation fees from all students.

    The union also called for immediate payment of all outstanding deductions meant for the Cooperative Societies in the School, which it noted was currently about N500 million.

  • Fedpoly Bauchi ASUP embarks on indefinite strike

    Fedpoly Bauchi ASUP embarks on indefinite strike

    The Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi Chapter of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) on Tuesday embarked on an indefinite strike to press home some of their demands.

    Comrade Ahmed Mukaddas, Chairman of the union told newsmen in Bauchi that the decision to go on the strike was taken at the congress held on Tuesday in Bauchi.

    Mukaddas accused the Rector, Dr Shuiabu Musa, of non-payment of accumulated 27 months academic allowances.

    Others are non-implementation of the July 2014, 2015 and 2016 promotion; non-payment of enhancement arrears and arrears of short fall in their salary since 2016.

    The other demands include non-payment of CONTISS arrears for the lower cadre since 2013; the actual number of staff on the payroll of the institution; improved student’s welfare; unused personnel cost amounting to N24 billion between February 2017 and August 2017.

    The union also accused the Rector of not organising convocations in the last seven years.

    He also alleged that there were inadequate laboratories and workshops in the institution; illegal recruitment of staff; total collapse of the security system in the school and urged the management to stop the deduction of 7.5 per cent from staff salaries.

    The chairman said the union would not accept any attempt by the management to force them to call off the strike until their demands were met.

    The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mohammed Wada, told NAN that the management was in a meeting trying to see how they could address some of the demands by the union.

    “As I am talking to you, the entire members of the management are busy trying to see how best to tackle some of the demands made by the union,” Wada said.

  • Fear of expulsion grips poly students

    There is palpable fear among students of the Federal Polytechnic in Oko (OKO POLY), Anambra State, as semester examination begins, following the suspension of the recent strike embarked on by Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP).

    The last semester examination was not a nice experience for some of the students as management pasted the names of students, who engaged in examination malpractice. They affected students were expelled by the management.

    Also, some students, who did not meet minimum pass mark required in various departments to be promoted to the next level of study, were advised to withdraw while others were transferred to less competitive departments.

    More than 40 students were asked to withdraw or repeat in the Mass Communication department after result of last semester was released. Without knowing the fate that may befall them, some below-average students have been gripped with fear.

    The administration of Prof Godwin Onu, the Rector, has reiterated its commitment to put the institution on the path of excellence as it frowns at conducts that may adversely affect the academic values of the polytechnic.

    Speaking to students, the Head of Mass Communication department, Mr G.O Ibe, stressed the need for students to take their studies seriously. He noted that rather than devote their time for books, students wasted time chatting on social media networks such as Facebook, 2go and Whatsapp.

    Reacting to the development, Nelson Nwamara, HND 1 Mass Communication, said final year students were not spared from expulsion or withdrawal. He urged the management to reconsider its stance on the withdrawal policy.

    He said: “The management should take its time to listen to the affected students and know the reason why they could not improve on their academic performance. Some of them may have good reasons. For It could be financial challenges or illness. Asking them to leave the institution would make their lives miserable.”

    Another student, who craved for anonymity, said: “Personally, it does not go down well with me. I would prefer that the school should suspend the affected students for one or two years or at best repeat the class than expelling them outright. Some of the students may not grab the subjects being taught in the class, which may have been the reason they failed. I take myself as an example. When I was in secondary school days, I was a bad student in Biology because the teacher teaching the subject was not doing it well. The subject’s teacher used to call me a fool. This was why I did not go for science-oriented discipline.

    “Sometimes, students are blessed with intelligence and capacity to excel in any chosen career but if there is no good teacher, they are bound to be weak in the discipline. I believe if a teacher teaches a student very well, nothing will prevent the student from passing the exam.”

    Other students, who spoke to CAMPUSLIFE, commended Prof Onu for putting a stop to the sales of handouts and textbook in the institution, a development that made some lecturers to be extorting students.