Polytechnic Workers Postpone Planned Strike to December 2

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has announced a deferment of its planned strike action, now scheduled for December 2, to provide the Federal Government with an opportunity to address its pressing demands.

ASUP National President Kpanja Shammah made this announcement following an emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja. Initially, on October 7, the union issued a 15-day ultimatum for the government to respond to its grievances, which include significant concerns over the National Board for Technical Education's (NBTE) alleged interference in the statutory responsibilities of academic boards regarding the admission of Higher National Diploma (HND) students.

The union also highlighted critical issues such as the need for infrastructure revitalization through the NEEDS Assessment intervention, the implementation of promotions in state institutions, and the payment of all outstanding promotion arrears.

Shammah emphasized the importance of the recent meetings, stating, “Resolutions and an action plan were developed during the meeting to resolve the issues. The union’s NEC met again on October 24 to review the proposed action plan with stakeholders.”

After extensive discussions, ASUP decided to postpone its strike action, allowing time to assess the government’s commitment to implementing the agreed-upon action plan. Shammah urged the government to take this opportunity seriously, stating, “We expect the government to show commitment by diligently executing the action plan on each of the 11 items of dispute, or risk a comprehensive withdrawal of service by academic staff in the Nigerian polytechnic system.”

The union expressed gratitude to the media and other stakeholders for their support in this ongoing struggle. As the new deadline approaches, all eyes will be on the government's response to ASUP's demands.