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  • FG policies destroying polytechnic education in Nigeria, says ASUP boss

    FG policies destroying polytechnic education in Nigeria, says ASUP boss

    The national chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Anderson Ezeibe has said that some policies of the federal government were destroying polytechnic education in Nigeria.

    While delivering a keynote lecture at a 3-day International conference organized by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) in Ikot Osurua campus, Akwa Ibom state, Professor Ezeibe highlighted that the government has inadvertently stifled technological education in Nigeria due to unfavourable policies.

    The conference focused on “Redefining the Mandate of Polytechnic Education for Economic Diversification and Sustainability.”

    Ezeibe listed some of the federal government policies working against polytechnic education including the HND/BSc dichotomy, the inability to enhance academic continuity for HND graduates, and the disparity between HND/BSc holders in government circles among others.

    He lamented a situation where Welders were hired from India for the Dangote refinery project at the expense of Polytechnic graduates adding that such an attitude encouraged capital flight while homegrown polytechnic manpower walloped in unemployment.

    The ASUP chairman regretted that the mandate of Polytechnic education has failed over the years as the government has not integrated them into national planning, especially in the technological development drive.

    Read Also: ASUP halts strike in Nuhu Bamalli Poly

    “Negligence of Polytechnics mandate has resulted in the high level of unemployment, poverty and poor entrepreneurship.

    “Polytechnics education is not encouraged. In some Polytechnics, the student population is less than 1000 while some state governors change their Polytechnics to Universities instead of developing them.

    “Government is demarketing Polytechnic education through their policies. The law that established Polytechnic education must be reviewed to meet emerging realities in our nation’s technological development. “

    Ezeibe, who was a Lead Lecturer at the 3-day conference urged the federal government to integrate polytechnic education to meet the objective of lifting quality life in the sustainable development goals.

    He noted: “Government should migrate away from monolithic economic model through diversification and promote skills education to meet skill need of the nation.”

    He charged all stakeholders in education to work in synergy to mainstream Polytechnic education into the nation’s development plan.

    Ezeibe said: “This will ensure that the government pays the right attention to funding Polytechnics, migrating the tertiary level of certification to Bachelor of Technology with a National Diploma retained as a feed for Bachelor of Technology.

    “Reverse the infrastructure deficits, review curriculum, and address the issue of staff remuneration to retain qualified personnel as well as restore technical colleges as feed for OND programmes across the nation.”

  • ASUP halts strike in Nuhu Bamalli Poly

    ASUP halts strike in Nuhu Bamalli Poly

    • Sani directs intervention

    Academic Staff Union of the Polytechnics (ASUP) in Kaduna State-owned Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria has shelved its decision to embark on strike due to what it called vulnerability of the institution to security threats.

    The earlier decision to close the polytechnic, came after Governor Uba Sani directed for the immediate implementation of interventions to end the impasse between the Academic Union and the Kaduna State Government.

    The development was coming after a series of intense deliberations with stakeholders comprising the Kaduna State Government, representatives from the polytechnic and ASUP.

    Executives of the union were invited to a meeting by the Kaduna State Government, following the release of a communique by ASUP on September 15, warning of an impending strike and subsequent closure of the institution of learning.

    Read Also: Impeached Ogun council boss lied against me – Abiodun

    During the meeting several issues faced by the institution were discussed revolving around the provision of security to the main campus ,payment of accrued allowances to security personnel, improved salary structure,lack of adequate funding for academic activities among others.

    Representatives from the Kaduna State Government assured of Sani’s commitment to fulfilling the first pillar of SUSTAIN agenda which is security and safeguarding the lives and properties of all residents.

    ASUP in a communique issued on September 18, signed by Comrade Abubakar Sadiq Yusuf, its General Secretary, stated: “The soldiers guarding the school have been paid their allowances till December 2023, thanks to the proactiveness of the Rector and the Commissioner on Education.

    “In respect to the commitment shown by the Kaduna State Government,the Kaduna State Commissioner of Education, the Union hereby suspends its intended call for school closure, members are hereby directed to report to their workstations tomorrow.”

    The ASUP GS further expressed his gratitude to Sani for the prompt steps taken in preventing the institution’s closure.

  • ASUP to Buhari: sign Polytechnic act into law

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sign into the law the Polytechnic Act recently passed into law by the National Assembly for the smooth running and industrial harmony in the nation’s polytechnics.

    The union also frowned at what it described as showdy process of appointing Rectors of some polytechnics without due diligence, saying this has become an embarrassment to the sector, demanding the reversal and adherence to due process in such appointments at the Federal Polytechnic Bida and Ile Ile-Oluji.

    In a communique at the end of its National Executive Committee meeting signed by National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Chris Nkoro, the Union said failure to adhere to due process in the appointment of Rectors or the reversal of such, the union may be forced to embark on a one week strike to protest such actions.

    The communique asked the Minister of Education and the management of the National Board for Technical Education, the regulatory agency for polytechnics in the country to ensure that the new Polytechnic act is transmitted to the President immediately for his ascent.

    While congratulating Nigerians for the success of the 2019 general election, the union said the outcome of the election is a huge leap in Nigeria’s democracy and urged the elected ones to be magnanimous in victory.

    The polytechnic lecturers however condemned the pockets of violence in various parts of the country during the elections, particularly “the loss of lives of our members in Rivers state and harassments in Bauchi and Taraba states and called on federal government to avail itself of technological gadgets to track security challenges in the country.”

    They also expressed concern over the rising cases of armed banditry and kidnapping in the country, a situation they said has made people prisoners in their homes and called on government at all levels to be more alive to their responsibility of safeguarding the lives and properties of Nigerians irrespective of social strata or creed.

    The Union said “Laws and Regulations can make or mar the progress of any organization. Noting this, the NEC is appreciates the 8th National Assembly for having passed the corrected Amendment Bill of the Polytechnics Act.

    “The NEC however, calls on the FME and NBTE to quickly facilitate the process of transmitting of and the subsequent signing of the Bill by the President, Mohammadu Buhari as soon as possible for improved productivity and best practices in the Polytechnics and Monotechnics.”

    They also at the persistent lethargic disposition of the Federal government and its agencies towards re-negotiation of FGN/ASUP agreement is utterly disappointing to the 94th NEC which views this as a ploy to cripple the system and perpetuate suffering on our members asked the government to without further delay, commence the re-negotiation process.

    It observed that while the Union had agreed on the terms of enrolling of the sector into IPPIS, some rectors have continued to use backhand ploy to enrol some institutions without recourse to our Union’s documented peculiar concerns while asking government to promptly call these erring rectors to order.

    Read Also: Buhari decries use of cyberspace to manipulate elections

    The union is also not happy that salary shortfalls and CONTISS 15 migration challenges which led to the suspended strike action have persisted, despite continued assurances by government that this situation has been dealt, stressing that with the conclusion of the 2019 general election, these issues would be addressed squarely by government immediately.

    The union also frown at the conditions in State Polytechnics/Monotechnics in terms of delay in payment of salaries, arrears of promotions and other infractions are still sources of grave concern, stressing that the situations still prevail in Abia, Kogi, Imo, Osun, Oyo, Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, Ekiti, Ondo and Zamfara.

    It reiterates the firm invocation of the “no salary, no accreditation” policy on the institutions concerned and further urges that all cases of victimization should be adequately redressed immediately.

    The union appeal to governments at all levels to desist from reneging on agreements and address these recurring issues in the spirit of the Union’s magnanimity in suspending the strike in February 2019, adding that by so doing, government would have shown its sincerity, humanity, altruism and responsiveness to improve the citizenry for higher industry.

  • I will provide conducive environment, Rector assures

    Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Dr. Dayo Hephzibah Oladebeye has assured of his administration’s commitment towards providing an enabling environment for staff to flourish at their optimum potential for the achievement of the goals of the Institution.

    Dr. Oladebeye who gave the assurance at the Inauguration of the Reconstituted Advisory Management Committees of the Polytechnic stressed that staff would be supported to give their best towards making the Polytechnic a world-class Institution.

    The Rector, who recalled with gratitude to Almighty God for handing over the mantle of leadership of the Institution to him about a year ago, expressed his appreciation to the 10th Governing Council, Principal Officers, other members of Management, Staff and Students of the Institution for their unflinching and highly commendable cooperation to his administration since its inception.

    While thanking the three Trade Union Executives i.e. ASUP, SSANIP and NASU as well as the Alumni and the Students’ Union for their support, the Rector also commended the uncommon display of understanding and maturity on the part of the leadership of the Unions in their fair dealings with the Polytechnic Management.

    He appreciated them for their constructive criticism and their readiness to always tow the line of dialogue as against confrontation opting to “jaw jaw” instead of “war war”.

    The 42 Standing Advisory Management Committees with about 500 members of staff drawn from across Unions, Cadres and other strata of the Polytechnic serving as Chairmen, Members or Secretaries were inaugurated in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, 12th March, 2019 in commemoration of the Rector’s first year in office.

    The Reconstitution of the various Committees marked a resolve to make the Oladebeye administration an all-inclusive one and a bold attempt by the Rector to democratize the one year old administration of the Polytechnic.

    The 42 reconstituted Advisory Committees and their Chairmen includes the Management Committee, headed by the Rector himself as well as the Board of Olusegun Obasanjo Centre for Engineering Innovation.

    Committees headed by the Deputy Rector (Academics) Dr. (Mrs.) J.O. Omoniyi are Academic Staff Publications Review Panel, Accreditation Committee as well as the Staff Training and Development Committee, while the Deputy Rector (Administration) Bldr. G.S. Olorunoje will also preside as Chairman over the Board of Survey; Ceremonies Committee; the Polytechnic Land Use Committee; Office Space Allocation Committee as well as Hostels Monitoring and Rehabilitation Committees.

    Other Committees include the Senior Non-Teaching Staff Review Committee, with the Registrar, Mrs. K.O. Ekanem as the Chairman, while the Junior Staff Review Committee and Housing Committee are both headed by the Polytechnic Librarian, Mr. E.O. Ayeni as the Chairman.

    The Admissions Committee has Mr. A.A. Aliu a Chief Lecturer in Mathematics as Chairman, while Polytechnic Loans, Security and Sports Committees are headed respectively by Mr. O.D. Dada, Dr. M.O. Akinola and Dr. O.I. Ayeni.The list of Committees also includes Students Disciplinary; Staff School Management Board; Time Table; Publications; Transport; Energy Utilization; Internally Generated Revenue; Environmental; Endowment Fund and Polytechnic Exhibition Committee among others.

    READ ALSO: Buhari appoints new Rector for Ado-Ekiti Fed Poly

    Dr Oladebeye, who noted that the inauguration of various Advisory Management Committee was the first of its kind by his administration, stressed that the inauguration became necessary in order to get staff familiar with and identify and recognize the chairmen and members of the Committee for easy accessibility and administration.

    He further stated that the inauguration of the Committees was in fulfillment of his avowed resolve to involve staff at all levels in the decision-making process of management which is in line with his belief in the democratic approach to decision making.

    The Rector further stated that the Committees of Management are primarily set up to serve as veritable tools in ensuring a virile and invigorated administration and Management of the Institution towards unhindered development of the institution.

    He charged the Committee members to generate sufficient intellectual discourse for the incubation of ideas that will lead to the hatching of sound recommendations for the realization of goals and objectives of the system.

    He also mandated the various Committees to carry out their assignment with utmost dispatch and ensure optimum achievement in their mandate as specified in their terms of reference.

  • ASUP suspends strike after signing deal with Fed Govt

    THE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) yesterday suspended its two-month-old strike after the Federal Government agreed to meet its demands.

    This is coming five days after the Academic Staff Union of Universities halted theirs.

    The government reached agreement with the union in the areas of revitalisation of polytechnic and colleges of education, review of the Polytechnic Act, payment of allowances and shortfalls and the renegotiation of the 2010 agreement.

    Read  also: Varsity accuses ASUU of plotting to destabilise institution

    As a sign of good faith, the government released N16.8 billion to settle all outstanding arrears, which will be disbursed by the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

    ASUP National President, Usman Dutse, stated these at a news conference yesterday in Abuja.

    He said the decision to suspend the strike, which had crippled activities at the nation’s polytechnics, was taken at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

  • Fed Govt hopeful ASUU, ASUP strike ‘ll end this week

    THE Federal Government has expressed hope that the strike embarked upon by university and polytechnic lecturers will end this week.

    It said it has resolved the issues, which made the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to embark on strike.

    Minister of Education Adamu Adamu stated these to reporters during a briefing in Abuja at the weekend.

    The minister said: “I should comment now on the ongoing strike, which I hope that it will be called off today or perhaps tomorrow. But certainly there will be no strike by next week (this week).

    “For ASUU, which also accept to call of their own since last week, we have virtually resolved all issues as we await the union to call off their own strike. We hope they will do so immediately.

    “I expected by now ASUU will have called off their strike because we have virtually reached agreement on all issues. So, I hope either today or tomorrow, but certainly within next week ASUU strike will be off. “

    The minister said the government has released N16.8 billion to settle outstanding allowances and shortfalls.

    He said the disbursement would be done by the Office of the Auditor -General of the Federation.

    He praised the colleges of education union for ending its strike.

    The minister said: “First I will like to commend COEASU for calling off their strike. We will like to thank them for being so reasonable and for calling off the strike to allow students to be back in classes.

    “Government will reciprocate this gesture by fulfilling all terms of agreement that we have reached with COEASU.

    “In particular, I will like to tell you that we have reached the following agreements:

    “•The review of the Polytechnic Act. Government awaits the transmission of the amended document by the National Assembly to Mr. President for his assent. We are waiting for the National Assembly to act.

    “•Revitalisation of polytechnic and colleges of education. Government is committed to the revitalisation of facilities in institutions and have directed the Minister of Finance to source for additional funding to the tune of N30 billion for that purpose. This is in reference to polytechnics and colleges of education and which is one of their demands.

    “•On the issue of state polytechnics, NBTE has been directed to strengthen regulatory mechanism because their complaint actually is these institutions are left without supervision so that standards are low. NBTE will see to that.

    “•Issue of allowances shortfalls is being addressed and government has released (N16, 800, 000, 000) to settle all outstanding arrears. Disbursement is ongoing through the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation.”

    But, ASUU President Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi said the union had not agreed to suspend its over three months’ strike.

    Prof. Ogunyemi said the union has gone back to its members on what the government has promised to do.

    He said the union has reached agreement with the government on some areas that are not “contentious”.

    “We are expecting our members to consider and get back to us with our own final statement too. That is the progress that we have made. Government has given its own final statement. ASUU will make its own final statement known before the end of the week.

    Also, ASUP President Usman Dutse said the union had not suspended its strike.

    He also denied that the Federal Government had met all its demand.

    Dutse said the union would decide if it will end the strike after a meeting with its members within the week.

  • ASUP accuses govt of neglecting technical, vocational education

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), has accused the Federal Government of neglecting technical and vocational education.

    Zone B Coordinator of the union, Mr. Abdullahi Yelwa, said this at a press conference in Jos.

    According to him, policy makers have over the years given little or no priority to technical education, hence the total neglect of the polytechnics in the country.

    “It is on record that no nation can develop above its educational system, particularly technological education; unfortunately, technical and vocational education has no space in the psyche of our policy makers.

    “This, among others, is responsible for the poor handling and misplacement of this sector by those concerned.

    “Instead of government doing the needful and ensure proper positioning of the sector, it has turned the other way,” he said.

    Yelwa also identified poor funding of polytechnics, shortfalls in personnel cost and withdrawal allowance, non-implementation of NEED Assessment Report, and poor condition of state-owned institutions as rationale for its ongoing strike.

    Other reasons, according to him, include non-release of CONTISS 15 migration arrears, delay in assenting to the amendment of the polytechnics Act, infractions in the appointments of rectors by state governments and continued victimisation of union leaders.

    The coordinator said the union was determined in raising the bar and ensuring an improved system in the polytechnics that would be the envy of all.

    He vowed that nothing would deter the union in pressing the government to set a good ground for an educational system that would advance technology.

    “ASUP has done its best to get the government’s attention to resolve the lingering issues raised with our renewed determination since 2017, but our efforts were treated with disdain.

    “We wrote series of memoranda and had consultative meetings with government, but were all unsuccessful and subsequently, it led to the current strike action.

    “It is unfortunate that we had to resolve to the last and this is the only option, and I assure you that we remain resolute in pursuance of these demands so that we can salvage the sector from further deterioration,” he said.

    Yelwa called on government to resolve the impasse soon, to enable academic activities resume to save the sector from collapse.

    ASUP had on December 12, 2018, in pressing home its demand, embarked on a nationwide industrial action that has crippled academic activities in most polytechnics across the country.

  • ASUU, ASUP strike and 2019 elections

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has warned that the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) may affect the 2019 general elections, if not resolved now. There was a twist to the tale when the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) threatened to “wade” in if their teachers did not return to work in two weeks, reports ADEGUNLE OLUGBAMILA.

    When the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) began its indefinite strike on November 5, many thought the matter would be settled in no time. But the strike has dragged for over one month and there appears to be no end in sight. To compound matters, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has also been on strike since December 12.

    The fear of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the strike could affect the forthcoming general elections, if not suspended before the polls, has heightened calls for the resolution of the matter.

    INEC is eyeing over one million ad hoc workers for the election, which begins in February, 2019. The bulk of these workers would comprise lecturers and students of Federal Government tertiary institutions nationwide as well as National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.

    But, according to the election umpire, this may no longer be  because of the strike.

    Last weekend, ASUU said there was no going back on its action. At a briefing on Sunday at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), ASUU National President Prof Biodun Ogunyemi urged the government not to drag ASUU into the election.

    Ogunyemi implored the government to, among others, “demonstrate serious commitment to implement the spirit and letter of the 2009 Federal Government/ASUU agreement and consider the implementation of the 2013 and 2017 Memorandum of Understanding it signed with the union”.

    “All we are asking for is the improved infrastructural development of Nigeria’s public universities to be globally competitive,” Ogunyemi said at the briefing.

    He said it was not true that the strikes would affect the February 2019 elections.

    ASUP too has vowed not to back down until its demands are met. The strike followed the government’s alleged failure to implement its agreements with the union since 2016.

    According to ASUP leadership, its members too would not bulge, if the lingering issues between the union and the government were not addressed before the elections.

    This development has left INEC with only one option; to co-opt students.

    But the NANS’ threat to “wade” into the strike may not make that option feasible.

    ASUP National President Comrade Usman Dutse told our reporter that it was only ASUP-NEC that could direct members to return to the classsrooms, adding that that seemed unlikely now until their meeting with the government on January 10, 2019.

    “It is true that some of our members are actually mobilised during general elections. But in view of the strike, I am not in a position to decide whether this (mobilisation) will be possible or not.” Dutse told The Nation on phone on Sunday.

    “Besides, it is only ASUP-National Executive Council (NEC) that can take a final decision on that. We already have a meeting with the Federal Government on January  10. After the meeting, ASUP-NEC will deliberate on the next line of action,” he added.

    Usman claimed that despite the 21-day ultimatum by ASUP to the government to address some of the issues, it had been nonchalant in acceding to the demands for improved funding for polytechnic education.

    Also, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the students’umbrella body, at the weekend, vowed to disrupt the general elections if their teachers were not settled. NANS demanded that all parties sheathe their swords two weeks or face a showdown.

    The students’ body said having appraised the issues between ASUU and Federal Government, and applied two of its three ‘Cs’ (Consultation and Consolidation), the body is left with no other alternative than to apply the last C (Confrontation).

    In a statement, the NANS National President, Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan at the weekend,  threatened to ‘engage in a mass protest to grind down activities across the country, and ‘’mobilise over 100,000 students to also shut down the Federal Capital Territory’’.

    The students leaders also said ASUU members must be ready to vacate their various staff quarters on campus. ASUU members, NANS insisted, should pay the students  from the salaries that they did not work for.

    NANS added: “Finally, we are determined to carry out these actions to the fullest if our campuses are not reopened at the expiration of this ultimatum. We, therefore, urge the Federal Government and ASUU not to test our resolve as students have been patient and taken for granted too far too long.”

    In a telephone chat with our reporter, Danielson said should the strike persist, many of their members would have been disenfranchised by the time the election is held.

    “Truth is, many of our members registered close to their campuses for ease of voting. But many of us are now home due to the strike and we cannot travel to our schools to exercise our franchise during the election period. This is the time many of us are also prone to violence because they are idle,” he told The Nation on phone.

    He continued: “The end of the year is usually like graduating period and while the New Year serves as the beginning of a new academic session. This means many of our members due for graduation may not graduate, let alone being mobilised for the mandatory NYSC. This also means they may have to pay tuition in the next academic session. Who takes care of that?

    “We felt these people are just toying with our future and it’s about time we took our destiny in our hands.”

    But in an interview, Ogunyemi said ASUU would attend a meeting with INEC Chairman on Friday, January 4.

    He said the union had not decided if it would deal with any member who chose to work with INEC, in case ASUU did not to pander to INEC’s request.

    “We have not yet discussed whether we will sanction our members who choose to work individually for INEC, if our strike still persists.

    “We have a plan to meet INEC that has invited us on January 4. We wish to see what INEC has in store for us. We shall then take INEC messages and get back to our members.”

    During a workshop organised by INEC, in conjunction with the United Nations in Abuja last week, the Commission’s Chairman of Information and other Education Committee Festus Okoye, had expressed concerns that the burden of recruiting ad hoc workers could not be shouldered by NYSC members alone.

    He said: “It is next to impossibility for members of NYSC to provide all the ad hoc staff needs and requirements of the commission, and over 70 per cent of ad hoc staff requirement in some states of the federation are drawn from students of federal tertiary institutions.

    “Hence the lingering strike by ASUU will no doubt have serious impact on the conduct of the 2019 elections. We, therefore, call on ASUU and the Federal Government to resolve the lingering impasse that had led to uncertainty in the education sector.

    “The national interest, the interest of our democracy and the reputation of Nigeria demand the immediate resolutions of the issues that led to the strike and we so urge.

    “It is important that students in federal tertiary institutions should and must be in school at least a month before the February 16 presidential and national assembly elections. They are a critical resource and their absence will have adverse effects on the ad hoc requirements of INEC.”

  • Photos: ASUP begins strike

    Department of Management Studies of Kaduna State Polytechnic, deserted as Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics begins strike in Kaduna on Thursday.

     

    Students of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) playing as Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics begin strike in Lagos on Thursday.

     

     

    Front Main Gate of the School of Management Studies Kaduna State Polytechnic closed as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics begin strike in Kaduna on Thursday

  • ASUP to begin indefinite strike tomorrow

    There are indications that members of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), in the country will begin a nationwide strike tomorrow.

    A statement issued and signed by the President of the Union,  Usman Dutse which was made available to the Nation in Port Harcourt the Rivers state capital on Monday said the resolution was reach at ASUP 93rd National Executive Council(NEC), meeting held in Yaba college of Technology,  Lagos State last month.

    The action is apparently in continuation of last year suspended strike by ASUP, to drive home the 10-point demand of the group.

    Dutse who said that the failure of the Federal Government and the Minister of Education led by Alhj. Adamu Adamu to comply with the agreements reached  between the group and the FG,  through the minister last year was reason for the planned resumed industrial action, hinted that the action will be total and indefinite until all the demands of the group are met.

    He said,  “It is in view of our union that the government has at beat paid lip service towards the solution of the issues that Led to the previous strike actions, leaving the union with no other alternative than to resume the suspended strike action.

    “I am therefore directed to communicate the resolution of NEC of our union to the effect that our member’s nationwide shall be withdrawing their services from December 12, 2018 in a comprehensive and total strike, until the issues are satisfactorily addressed.” he stated.

    Some the issues listed are the non-implementation of NEED ASSESSMENT report of 2014, as agreed with the minister at the meeting of October 2017, lack of seriousness in the renegotiation if the Union’s 2010 agreement.

    “Non release of arrears of CONTISS 15, migration arrears for the lower cadre. Non release of arrears of promotions and shortfalls in personnel releases as well as nonpayment of allowances.”

    Others he said include, “Nonpayment of salaries in many state owned polytechnics, nonpayment of union check off dues pension deductions and other statutory deductions from staff salaries to the appropriate bodies, continues victimization of union officers among others.

    The group vowed never to allow themselves to be deceived again by the government.

    He called on all his members across the country to withdraw their services from 12 midnight today (Tuesday) in full commencement of the action.