Academic Staff Union Agrees To Call Off Strike

 ASUP has agreed to call off strike at the meeting organized on Tuesday by the Joint Committee on Education of the National Assembly, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has agreed to call off the strike as soon as possible, once their demands are met.

 The meeting sought to resolve the confrontation between the Federal Government, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), and ASUP. Rukayat Rufai, the Minister of Education, and Chukwuemeka Nwogu, the Minister of Labour and Productivity were present at the meeting.

 The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Education, Uche Chukwumerije called the unions to end this impasse which has grounded tertiary institutions across the country.

 The President of ASUP, Chibuzor Asomugha stated that the polytechnic lecturers would do all within their powers to end the strike in the nearest time.

 “Our meeting with the Senate Committee on Education was successful. There was an agreement to meet our demands in the next two weeks as the request will be presented to President Goodluck Jonathan for his approval,” he said.

 Mr Asomugha noted that the Senate, asked the union to call off their strike and give the Senate some time to convey their demands to the President.

 However, Mr Asumogba stated that he cannot unilaterally end the strike based on government’s promise.

 He added ASUP will decide when to finish the industrial action “after our NEC meeting slated in two weeks.”

 ASUP demands waiting for presidential approval include implementation of the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure, the Consolidated Polytechnic and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS), package, the appointment of the governing council and the issuance of the White Paper on same.

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Senate Moves To End Strike

THE Senate has waded into the over 9 weeks strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics ASUP, raising hope of an imminent resolution.

 President of ASUP, Dr. Chibuzor Asomugha, said yesterday that the Senate Committee on Education has intervened to end the protracted industrial action.

 According to him:”The Senate Committee has pledged to intervene and meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation with a view to sorting out issues around the completion of appointment of members of governing councils of six polytechnics and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) imbroglio.”

 Asomugha, who described the ASUP meeting with Senate Committee as fruitful, said “specific assignments were given to different stakeholders with Tuesday next week as deadline for results.”

 Present at the intervention meeting were members of the Senate Committee on Education, Education Minister, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa’i and Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu. Also present were Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, Dr. Mas’udu A. Kazaure; National Publicity Secretary, ASUP, Mr. Clement Chairman; Permanent Secretary (Education) and Director of Establishment (Head Of Service) It would be recalled that ASUP embarked on nationwide indefinite strike on April 29 over what they termed Federal Government’s insensitivity to its demands.

 ASUP is asking government to adequately fund polytechnics, as well as appointing qualified rectors in Nigerian Polytechnics, and to resolve the issue of integrated polytechnic pay-roll system, among others.

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