Polytechnic Lecturers Issue 15-Day Ultimatum Over Unresolved Demands

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding immediate action on various long-standing issues affecting polytechnic education in Nigeria. This announcement was made by Mr. Shammah Kpanja, ASUP’s National President, during a press conference following the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja.

Kpanja emphasized that the ultimatum, which begins on October 7, is crucial as the government has yet to address the union's pressing concerns. "Our union hereby issues a 15-day ultimatum as required by law, calling on the proprietors of public polytechnics to address these items," he stated. He added that if the government fails to respond adequately by the end of this period, the NEC will reconvene to determine a legitimate course of action, which may include strikes and protests.

Among the key demands outlined by ASUP are the review and reversal of actions inconsistent with the Federal Polytechnics Act, as well as the commencement of the review process for the suspended schemes of service for polytechnics, as agreed in a tripartite meeting in July 2024. Kpanja also called for the release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention for public polytechnics and Colleges of Technology.

Other significant demands include:

• Cessation of actions undermining the responsibilities of Academic Boards in student admissions.
• Inclusion of the negotiated peculiar academic allowance in the budget against the post-IPPS payment template for members.
• Immediate implementation of the approved 25/35 percent salary review across all public polytechnics and payment of accrued arrears.
• Final resolution of the long-standing CONTISS 15 migration arrears for lower cadre staff.
• Recommencement and completion of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement renegotiation process.
• Release of the reviewed conditions of service to facilitate promotion in state-owned institutions and resolve outstanding promotion arrears in federal institutions and colleges of technology.

Kpanja reiterated the importance of these demands in advocating for a functional polytechnic education system in Nigeria, urging the government to take necessary actions to prevent an imminent shutdown of the sector.

As the deadline approaches, anxiety mounts among polytechnic lecturers and students regarding the potential impact of unresolved issues on academic activities across the country.