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Tag: Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH)

  • LASPOTECH: Understanding the CONTISS imbroglio

    The agitation for the implementation of Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Structure (CONTISS 15) migration by the three staff unions is an issue that has thrown the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) community into unrest since 2016.

    The CONTISS 15 migration is the movement of staff from one salary grade level to the next level provided the staff meets the necessary conditions stipulated by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) that such staff must have been employed before August 1, 2009. Such staff must possess the basic academic/professional or both qualifications applicable to his/her competence in addition to compliance with institutional policy and such staff must have spent a minimum of two years on the current position before the year of migration.

    The threats by the three staff unions to the lives of members of the Governing Council along with the principal officers of the polytechnic got to a peak that during a session of the Governing Council’s meeting when the members were rounded up and locked up at the Board Room with threats to set ablaze the entire building with the members inside. Charms were freely displayed and urine poured on the heads of elderly council members sent to appeal to them. Power supply was cut off and all members’ cars vandalised.

    Following these threats, the office of the special adviser to the governor on education in order to save lives and property, directed the Governing Council to implement the CONTISS 15 migration scheme in order to pacify the rampaging union members that held the Governing Council members hostage for several hours. This implementation was on the terms presented by the three staff unions which was later found to be defective.

    The faulty implementation of the CONTISS 15 started in October 2016; notwithstanding, the three staff unions continued to agitate for the payment of the 87 months arrears calculated to N1.7billion which was a financial burden to accommodate.

    Management at this instance sent two members of staff to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in Kaduna to seek clarification on the policy implementation of CONTISS 15 migration, specifically, a member of the unions and another, a deputy registrar in the personnel department on behalf of management.

    Ironically, the two gentlemen sent to NBTE returned with two conflicting reports. The representative of the unions came with a point to point movement implementation which was their position for October 2016 defective implementation, while the representative of management insisted that the implementation was to be in line with the normal and usual promotional movement as it was done in 2004 when the polytechnic implemented the Alignment of Nomenclature Policy of 1998 of Lagos State government.

    Based on the conflicting positions of the representatives, the office of the special adviser to the governor on education wrote directly to NBTE, seeking clarification on the implementation of the said NBTE guidelines.

    The NBTE, in response, sent the policy guidelines directly to the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education (SAE).

    The Office of SAE sent the policy papers to the Governing Council and other relevant agencies of government for consideration and recommendation.

    On receiving the NBTE document from the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, the Governing Council constituted a committee with representatives from Governing Council, management and the three staff unions to consider the document as directed by the state government.  At the meeting, the unions insisted that the polytechnic should implement the NBTE  CONTISS 15 Migration Guidelines holistically even though management and Governing Council were not favourably disposed to this position for they believed that it should only be for Officers on CONTISS 11 downwards and CONTISS 12 upwards (where necessary) according to NBTE.

    To give peace a chance again the Governing Council/ Management obliged.

    This position was part of the collective resolutions of the Governing Council, management and the unions that was forwarded later to the state government for consideration and necessary approval in 2017.

    The unions at several intervals embarked on strike actions that disturbed the peace of the institution. This forced the state government to institute a court action against the unions’ consistent strike actions.

    The state House of Assembly intervened at the unions’ instance but they were impatient to wait for the resolution before embarking on their usual trade mark – strike action.

    They also waved off, in acts of arrogance and disrespect to constituted authority, the intervention of the high power State Executive Council led by the Deputy Governor in the company of the Secretary to the State Government and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education.

    Having disregarded the interventions of the deputy governor’s team and that of the state House of Assembly, the Lagos State Executive Council proceeded to deliberate on the Governing Council’s presentation on the NBTE documents and released its decision which was communicated to the polytechnic management for implementation effective July 1, 2018 but just commenced by the polytechnic due to administrative inconveniences and court directive.

    The state government in an act of magnanimity overlooked all previous payments made in error since October 2016 to staff involved in the migration scheme due to the defective position of the unions before the approved implementation date of the State Executive Council.

    Steps taken by the polytechnic management so far include series of meetings between the staff and management to explain the position of CONTISS 15 migration, letters written to every member of staff involved in CONTISS 15 Migration by the registrar, implementation of CONTISS 15 Migration in accordance with the NBTE guideline and as directed by the Lagos State government and management directed all staff who may have issues on the implementation to forward their complaints to the registrar for necessary action.

    Both the Governing Council and management have also taken a number of steps to cushion the effects of the salary realignment, including immediate promotion of staff that were due for the 2016/2017 appraisal year, immediate commencement of 2017/2018 appraisal, immediate implementation of annual increments from 2016 to date and payment of three months arrears of promotion to eligible staff member.

    Kuye is the Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Relations of the Lagos State Polytechnic, (LASPOTECH) Ikorodu.

  • LASPOTECH shuns ASUP strike

    The academic staff of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, have defiled the ongoing nationwide strike declared by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) on Wednesday.

    ASUP had declared to commence a comprehensive and indefinite strike from Dec. 12 in all the nation’s polytechnics to compel the government to meet their demands.

    Mr Usman Dutse, the National President of the union, had said that the strike became necessary following the failure of the Federal Government to implement the 2009 and 2017 agreements reached with the union.

    Mr Salami Olugbenga, the embattled Vice-Chairman, ASUP, LASPOTHECH chapter, told NAN in Lagos that they could not join the strike because there was no organ of the union on ground in the polytechnic since December 2017.

    Olugbenga said this was as a result of an internal crisis between the union and the polytechnic’s management which had yet to be resolved by the court.

    “We are not on strike because we have some internal wranglings with the management sometime last year which is still in court.

    “We can’t join the strike because there is no organ of the union on ground for now,” he said.

    Read Also: LASPOTECH gets licence for radio station

    The vice-chairman said the management had also stopped the check-off dues of the union members since Dec. 2017 and that there was nothing the members could do about it even though they were unsatisfied.

    “Our members at some point were looking up to ASUP National to wade into the matter and resolve it, unfortunately, the national body is seriously disappointing.

    “The national came to LASPOTECH at some point and met the Rector, maybe because the rector was so adamant and the case was already in court, they felt there was nothing they could do about it,” he said.

    Olugbenga said the polytechnic had attempted to withdrew the case but the union executives knowing that this would enable the management to clamp down heavily on some of them, refused and filed a counter claim.

    He said the management had also demanded that the court grant them right to demigrate the union members from CONTISS 15 Salary Structure as agreed between ASUP and Federal Government in 2009.

    According to him, the management claimed that the ASUP, LASPOTHECH chapter, forced it into signing the agreement and that was why they could not pay the arrears.

    The unionist said the counter claim filed by the union’s embattled executives enabled the court to order that all issues between the union and the management return to status quo and be implemented as such until the court judgement.

    “Since then, all issues remained as before to avoid contempt of the court, our salary is paid in line with CONTISS 15 but the arrears since 2009 remain on paid.

    “The union had appeared again in court on Dec. 6, but unfortunately the court could not sit,” he said.

    Reacting, The Polytechnic Spokesman, Mr Olarewaju Kuye, also confirmed to NAN that the institution was not on strike.

    Kuye said that the issues between the union and the polytechnic management were still in court and so they await the court decision.

    He, however, dismissed the claim that the union check-off due was indiscriminately stopped.

    Kuye explained that the management had called on the unions to renew the mandate of their members last year to enable it to continue to deduct the dues of their members.

    A check by our reporter reveals that activities in the Polytechnic were normal as both lecturers and students were seen going about their businesses as usual.

    NAN

  • Review Nigeria’s tax laws, Oshiomhole tells FG

    Review Nigeria’s tax laws, Oshiomhole tells FG

    Former Edo Governor, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole has called for a review of the Nigeria’s tax laws for an effective tax administration.

    Oshiomole, also a former President, Nigeria Labour Congress ( NLC ), made the call at the 26th Convocation Lecture of the Lagos State Polytechnic ( LASPOTECH ), Ikorodu.

    The lecture was entitled, “Crisis of Governance, Governance of Crisis: The Role of Education in Nibbling Governance Crisis in Nigeria.”

    He said the Federal Government must put necessary machinery in place to ensure that those who are expected to pay tax do so as and when due for improved infrastructural development of the country.

    Oshiomhole regretted that the only group of people who pay tax regularly are salary earners whose taxes were deducted at source.

    The former governor expressed disappointment that millions of taxable adults had devised means of evading tax.

    “How do we justify tax payment because most people say why do we pay tax when they will steal the money, what are they doing with it? Look at the roads they are bad, ” he said.

    According to him, such statement were mere excuses as the first step to be taken is to pay the tax to get moral and legal right to demand the judicious use of the money by the government.

    Oshiomhole urged the federal government to take a cue from the effective tax system of the Lagos State Government which had devised a means of identifying those who are expected to pay tax and ensure that they comply.

    “The developmental strides and successes recorded in Lagos State is a result of proper tax collection and judicious use of the fund.

    “Government must ensure that those who are at advantage pay their taxes and the fund generated should be used to deliver infrastructure for those who are at disadvantaged and everyone.

    “You can’t expect good roads, water and other social amenities  if you don’t pay tax;  once you pay then you can begin to probe the authorities and demand accountability for your money, ” he said.

    On the rights of the citizens, Oshiomhole noted that the logic of democracy enables citizens to have not only the weapon to vote once in four years, but to “police and interrogate” those they voted for in between the elections.

    He decried the poor state of the nation’s economy which he blamed on mismanagement of the country’s resources by the previous administration.

    “The manifestation of crisis in Nigeria include but not limited to corruption, failing public schools, security challenges , growing population , among others.

    “While it cannot be established that everybody is involved in corruption, its existence must be recognised by all and fought out of our system.”

    Oshiomhole noted that corruption had affected almost all the sectors of the country, adding that graft was was not limited to only those in government.

    According to him, the poor state of infrastructure and absence of basic facilities such as stable power supply, potable water, good roads and functional refineries are caused by corruption.

    On petrol subsidy, the ex-governor he said rather than subsidising petroleum products the government should handover the refineries to competent private investors who would make manage and run them.

    “Rather than to lament and agonize, what we need do is to organize and tackle those things that have brought us down as a nation.

    “As Nigerians we must recognise the problems confronting the country so as to diagnose and prescribe solutions to fix them.

    “The responsibility of leaders is so fix the country rather than join the citizens to lament.

    “When one notices that an environment is oppressive, what is expected of the victim is not to sit down to lament but to devise a way out of the problem,” he said.

    He, however, hailed President Muhammadu Buhari on the war against corruption, saying it recorded remarkable results.

    “The era of impunity of do it and nothing will happen is almost over in Nigeria; this is an era bringing every offender to book no matter their status.”

    Oshiomhole urged Nigerian students to be interested in governance, saying you are the future leaders.

    “You must interrogate power, organise yourself decently and ensure that your leaders are accountable just like the NANS during the military era who demand answers for every action.

    “Unlike the NANS of today who go mute on burning societal issues and are giving awards and giving plaques to government officials and other influential people, ” he said.

    In his remarks, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State lauded the former governor for honouring the invitation of the state polytechnic and expresses optimism that he would do justice to the lecture.

    Ambode, represented by Dr Abdullateef Abdulakeem, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, described him as a ‘protagonist and an antagonist’.

    He said the role played by Oshiomhole in crisis management as a labour leader and governor negotiating potential issues with government and in government could not be over emphazised.

    The Rector of the institution, Mr Samuel Sogunro, noted that government was all about service delivery and once it fails at any level, the entire society would be affected, stressing the need for  transparency in governance.

    Sogunro said education in governance was key and if ignored could lead to crisis in governance because “education is the nation’s bulwark.”

    NAN

  • One dead as cultists attack LASPOTECH Ikorodu campus

    One dead as cultists attack LASPOTECH Ikorodu campus

    One person was killed while several others were wounded on Tuesday following a bloody attack on Ikorodu Campus of the Lagos State Polytechnic ( LASPOTECH ) by suspected cultists.

    The deceased, identified as Ahmed Amao, was a former LASPOTECH student who had been expelled from the institution.

    We gather that the groups of hoodlums invaded the Ikorodu campus from different directions on Tuesdacy evening, chasing the students around the polytechnic with guns, machettes and knives.

    LASPOTECH spokesman, Olanrewaju Kuye, told our reporter that the terrified students alerted the institution’s security personnel on sighting the hoodlums, comprising some former students of the polytechnic.

    “So, we had to chase them out the campus via the polytechnic’s first gate; but when we got there, we discovered another set (hoodlums) approaching from the adjourning village to attack our students.

    “Upon sighting our security men the gang began to shoot at will and our security men had no choice but to retaliate.

    “Unfortunately, we hit one of the hoodlums, Ahmed Amao, a former student who had been expelled for examination malpractice. We learnt he died on Wednesday,’’ Kuye said.

    He added that but for the prompt response of the institution’s security personnel, many students could have lost their lives in the attack.

    Kuye assured parents of the safety of their wards following the attack on the campus by suspected cultists, saying “this will never be allowed to happen again.

    “They should go on with their normal duties because nothing untoward will happen to them.

    “Our security men now wield firearms too and our students have our phone numbers for prompt response. We will not take chances,’’ said the LASPOTECH spokesman.

    Confirming the incident, Chike Oti, Spokesman, Lagos State Police Command, said that the attackers were on revenge mission following an attack on one of their members.

    Oti said two suspects were arrested with a locally made pistol following the incident.

    There was heavy presence of gun-wielding security personnel comprising the police, Oyabo (local vigilante) and private guards when our correspondent visited LASPOTECH Ikorodu Campus on Wednesday.

    Calm is gradually returning to the institution as students and other members of the polytechnic community were seen going about their normal activities on Wednesday.

    NAN

  • Laspotech set to inaugurate radio station

    Laspotech set to inaugurate radio station

    The Lagos State Polytechnic ( LASPOTECH ), Ikorodu on Tuesday said it had completed its radio station and would commission it soon.

    Mr Sameul Sogunro, Rector of the Institution, said this at the matriculation of its new students for the 2017/2018 academic session.

    Sogunro said all the equipment for transmission of the Laspotech Frequency Modular (FM) radio station had been procured.

    He said the station was domiciled at the Department of Mass Communication in the School of Communication and Liberal Studies at the Ikorodu Campus.

    “I appreciate the assistance of the State Government, through the Office of the Special Adviser on Communities and Communication, for providing the studio equipment,’’ the rector said.

    According to him, the Polytechnic has also begun the construction of drainage and car park at the School of Technology complex, funded by the state government.

    He said the School of Agriculture Administrative block and Department of Agricultural Technology projects would also begin in 2018.

    “It will be funded through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFUND ).’’

    The rector promised that his administration would continually strive to engage, train and retrain its personnel, while putting in place modern facilities for learning.

    “In spite of dwindling resources, the Polytechnic has managed to stay afloat to deliver good services to our students.

    “We must continue to be prudent and make judicious use of meagre resources by blocking every possible leakage.

    “Your role in the prompt payment of fees and other charges would assist the Polytechnic greatly in this regard,’’ Sogunro told the students.

    He said the institution’s Academic Board had made agricultural studies mandatory for all its students.

    This step, he said, is to make them job providers and not job seekers after graduation.

    He advised the fresh students to dissociate themselves from all forms of vices, including examination malpractice, cultism, gambling, harassment, lecture absenteeism and extortion among others.

    According to him, the Polytechnic administration has zero tolerance toward any form of unwholesome attitude.

    “The penalty for involvement in any anti-social vice is expulsion.

    “The Academic Board will not hesitate to take stern disciplinary action against any erring student for involvement in examination malpractice.

    “It is my hope that you will abide by the provisions of the Matriculation oath to which you have sworn today, so that you can excellently fulfil your studentship,’’ he said.

    The rector assured the students of maximum security on all the institution’s campuses.

    He urged them to report suspicious activities to appropriate authorities.

    The Polytechnic matriculated 2,294 National Diploma students and 2,164 Higher National Diploma students.

    NAN

  • LASPOTECH workers begin indefinite strike

    LASPOTECH workers begin indefinite strike

    Academic and administrative activities were paralysed on Wednesday at the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) as workers of the institution down began an indefinite strike on Aug. 1.

    A copy of the strike notice by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), LASPOTECH chapter, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said the strike was with effect from Aug. 1.

    The notice said the strike would “remain indefinite, total and comprehensive until the demands of the unions were met’’.

    NAN reports that the strike also affected other sister unions of ASUP — the Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (NASUP) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnic (SSANIP).

    The notice said the unions resumed their suspended strike due to a failure by the institution’s management to meet their demands following a month grace given.

    According to the notice, the Lagos State Government had intervened in the strike by the unions through the House of Assembly Committee on Education and that was why it was suspended then.

    “Congress had unanimously resolved that the committee that was to be set up by the House Committee on Education to find a lasting solution to the issues of migration arrears be given till 31st July 2017.

    “Failure of which the union will resume its suspended strike without notice.

    “It is rather sad to inform you that after the committee has identified substantial amount to pay 12 months as the first tranche, the management turned in a document from National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) to truncate an already laid process for payment,’’ it said.

    According to the notice, the same authentic documents which the union presented to the press on the migration arrears are the same the management now mischievously flaunt to foot-drag and frustrate all resolutions on the payment.

    “The flaunted documents, if allowed to fly, will cause more harm than good, it is going to affect us all from number one person to the least cleaner and this we have warned them about.

    “As it stands, dear comrades, if by 12 midnight, the 12 months arrears in the first tranche is not paid, the strike will resume on Aug. 1; it is indefinite, total and comprehensive,’’ it said.

    Meanwhile, the Deputy Head, Public Relations Unit, LASPOTECH, Mr Oluwasola Erinoso, confirmed to NAN that the strike had commenced.

    Erinoso said that while the strike was suspended a month ago following the intervention of the House Committee on Education, an in-house committee to proffer a solution was set-up.

    He said the in-house committee comprised of members of the House Committee on Education, the management team and the union members.

    Erinoso said talk was still ongoing on how to pay the outstanding arrears and the process for the payment before the union resumed the strike on Aug. 1.

    He, however, appealed to the unions to go back to dialogue with the management so that all the outstanding issues would be resolved and normalcy restored in the institution.

  • Salary arrears: LASPOTECH lecturers take protest to House of Assembly

    Salary arrears: LASPOTECH lecturers take protest to House of Assembly

    Scores of lecturers and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Thursday besieged the State House of Assembly to protest 87 months of unpaid arrears and other grievances.

    They also demanded the removal of the Rector of the institution, Mr. Samuel Sogunro, whom they alleged was behind the crisis plaguing the institution in recent time.

    The protesters, while noting that the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has been doing a lot to reposition the institution, including increasing subvention for the school, lamented that the management of the institution were discrediting the governor’s effort to improve the fortunes of the school.

    The protesters carried placards, some of which read: “Militarisation and infiltration of arms on campus by the management,” “Reversal of the removal of 4% pension and annuity,” “TETFUND: Denial of scholarship conference/books publishing and research grant to staff members,” among others.

    Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), LASPOTECH branch, Mr. Akinrinlola Ibitoye said the indefinite industrial action being embarked upon by the lecturers and others was as a result of the rector’s misadministration and insensitivity to the issues that affect the welfare of staff in the polytechnic community.

    “We would like to place on record that the on-going industrial action is avoidable. It is as a result of the administration of the polytechnic reneging on the previous tripartite agreement reached on March 7, 2017 by the administration, Council, officials of Ministry of Education and the Staff Unions of the Polytechnic, to commence on the payment of CONTISS 15 migration arrears before the 25th convocation ceremony of the Polytechnic held on March 9, 2017.

    “The Unions further reached an agreement with the Council on 25th May, 2017, giving 21 days window for the payment of CONTISS 15 Migration arrears and the resolution of other issues of which the polytechnic administration and the Governing Council reneged upon.

    “Furthermore, at the congress held on April 20, 2017, the Deputy Rector(Academic) who represented the Rector at the meeting, said that the administration had saved N343,000,000 only as at April, 2017 and are only waiting for the approval of the government to commence implementation.’ This amount could pay 16 months arrears at the first instance,” he said.

    Ibitoye added that the union was, however, aware that the approval of the Council was enough for the payment of the arrears since it could be paid from the funds within the coffers of the Polytechnic, lamenting that the union was at a loss on why the officials of the Ministry who were party to the tripartite agreement on March 7, 2017 were now singing a different tune..

    He added that the staff wanted the security forces within the campus to be withdrawn from immediately, adding that on Wednesday, the union was set aback by the move made by the polytechnic management led Sogunro to incite student against the staff unions, “the effect we considered as barbaric and undemocratic.

    “An executive member of the Union- Comr. Adewunmi Alfred Olorunfemi was badly injured, his wife beaten to stupor by Sogunro’s soldiers and the union bus was vandalised.”

    “We demand the immediate commencement of the payment of the arrears of CONTISS 15 migration. We demand the immediate payments of 16 months arrears based on the availability of N343 million only from the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the Polytechnic as announced by the Rector and corroborated by the Deputy Rector (Acad.) While the outstanding of 71 months will be paid within a maximum period of two (2) years,” he added.

    Responding to the protesters, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, condemned the military attack on the workers and assured the protesters that the House would commence investigation into the allegations against the institution.

    “Our institution is not meant for military. Tertiary institutions in Lagos are expected to be manned by security personnel and not officers of the Nigerian army. And we expect that whenever there is any crisis, the police is in the best position to address it not soldiers. We will work swiftly on the issue to ensure that the crisis rocking LASPOTECH is quickly resolved,” Obasa added.

    He warned that anyone that must lead any institution within the state must abide by the rules of engagement.

    He however urged the protesters to continue to resort to peaceful demonstration and refrain from any act that could lead to violence.

     

  • SSANIP urges FG to release NEEDS Assessment Report

    SSANIP urges FG to release NEEDS Assessment Report

    The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) on Friday urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, release the report of the NEEDS Assessment of Polytechnics.

    Rev. Sunday Sabo, National President of the union said this at the 52nd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu.

    “The release of the report is essential to improve the education and working standard of the institutions.

     “This union is uncomfortable with the kind of attention the federal government is paying to the funding of the Polytechnic sector.

    “While the need for the release of the report is urgent, government must also make fund available for the implementation of the recommendation contained therein,” Sabo said.

    He called on some state governors owing its members more than five months salaries to desist from such act, and not hide under the guise of recession.

    Sabo said failure by the affected governors to comply with the demands of the union and pay the workers as expected would force the union to take drastic action.

    He also called on the affected state governors to stop the victimisation of its members in some state Polytechnics and similar institutions.

    According to him, it is worrisome that some of its members facing victimisation in the affected states are being redeployed from the institutions to Ministries and other Departments.

    Sabo also called on the federal and state polytechnics to ensure that appointment of Principal Officers was in line with the provision of scheme of service and Polytechnic Act.

    “The union would resist attempts by any institution to derail from the extant provisions,” he added.

    The association president demanded for the constitution of governing councils in all federal and state polytechnics.

    He said that the absence of governing councils in the institutions was a hindrance to their smooth running in terms of getting approval for execution of policies and programmes.

    Sabo said the union was also unhappy with the situation where the 65 years retirement age for Polytechnic workers was implemented only for the teaching staff in some state institutions.

    According to him, the continuous delay in the implementation of the law is unacceptable by the union.

    The union demanded that the federal government immediately release fund for the payment of arrears due to CONTISS 15 migration with effect from 2009 as agreed.

    Sabo, while commending the federal government for the approval of the abolition of the Higher National Diploma (HND) and Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) dichotomy, demanded its implementation.

    “We implore the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to, as a matter of urgency, release the white paper on the implementation of same in order to make it official and also implement it across the country without further delay,” he said.

    The association president said no committee was set up by the government to meet with the union despite several letters to draw the attention of the government to its demands.

    Sabo urged the government to constitute a committee to sit on the negotiation table with the union and discuss how to meet its demands.

     

  • LASPOTECH lecturers resume work as ASUP strike ends

    LASPOTECH lecturers resume work as ASUP strike ends

    Lecturers of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, on Monday returned to work as the one-week national warning strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) ended.

    ‎Mr Uthman Olayinka, General Secretary, ASUP, LASPOTECH Chapter, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that his members were back in the classroom.

    ASUP had, on Jan. 30, commenced a one-week warning strike to press home some demands it was making on the government.

    It had said that the warning strike would end on Feb. 5.

    Olayinka told NAN that lectures had commenced on Monday, though the outcome of the negotiation between the union’s national body and the Federal Government had yet to be communicated to the chapter.

    “As directed, we resumed today, just as the strike elapsed,’’ the union’s scribe said.

    According to him, a report of the negotiation between the government and the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) will still be sent to the chapter.

    Olayinka said that the strike was effective in the university while it lasted, as the union members complied fully as directed.

    ‎NAN reports that ASUP, in calling the strike, said it was unhappy with the state of polytechnic education in the country.

    According to the union, the government had failed to commence re-negotiation of the ASUP/Government agreement of 2010, on the review of the Federal Polytechnics Act.

    ‎The union had threatened to embark on an indefinite strike if the government failed to resolve some pending issues during the one-week strike.

  • LASPOTECH joins ASUP strike

    LASPOTECH joins ASUP strike

    Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has joined other chapters of the union on a one-week warning strike.

    The Chairman of the union’s LASPOTECH chapter, Akinriola Ibitoye stated this Monday at a press briefing following a congress held with members.

    The strike is expected to last till next Monday.

    Ibitoye, who described the strike as ‘total’, said it strike was commenced following government’s failure to meet the union’s demands.

    He added that stakeholders had evaluated the progress of polytechnic institutions in the country and how it affected the students.

    The chairman also said the chapter had therefore set up a committee to monitor the institution’s campus for compliance.

    “The main reason for the congress is to inform our members that there is a directive from the national body as to commencing the one-week warning strike. The reaction of our members was that we should join the strike and it should be a total strike.

    “When we say strike, it is not a local strike but a national strike because all resolutions are important and in one way or the other, the resolutions affects all of us. As a matter of fact, some rare fundamentals like the dichotomy against HND holders compared to BSc holders and that alone is enough reason to why the strike must commence.”

    Ibitoye also frowned at earlier statements that Lagos State Polytechnic Chapter of the union would not partake in the strike.

    A recent statement signed by the ASUP National leader, Usman Dutse, stated that lecturers in the nation’s polytechnics had been mobilized for the strike stressing that “we will withdraw our services, both academic and administrative jobs.’’

    Also among the union’s demands are the non-implementation of the NEEDS Assessment report since July 2014; sustained poor funding of Polytechnics, non-implementation and non-release of CONTISS 15 migration arrears; delay in review of the federal polytechnic act, among others.