By Saheed Ibrahim
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The Academic Staff of Polytechnics has revealed plan to engage the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu over nonpayment of salaries, non-payment of revitalisation fund and fulfillment of other agreements with the union.
The National President of ASUP, Anderson Ezeibe, revealed that an emergency meeting of the union which was held on Monday resolved to engage the Minister of Education and report back to its National Executive Council.
Ezeibe lamented that 15 federal polytechnics have yet to receive their January salary.
He identified the affected polytechnics as Fedpoly Idah, Fedpoly Offa, Fedpoly Ede, Auchi Poly Auchi, Fedpoly K/Namoda, WAFedpoly Birni Kebbi, Fedpoly Bauchi, Fedpoly Bida, Fedpoly Kaltungo, Fedpoly Bali, Kadpoly, Fedpoly Mubi, Fedpoly Nekede, Fedpoly Ilaro, Fedpoly Oko.
However, he stated that on Monday evening, the schools started getting their salaries but without third-party deductions.
Ezeibe also stressed that ASUP members in some state institutions including Abuja, Abia, Ogun, Osun, Benue, and Plateau, were being owed as much as 40 months salaries.
In this January 2023, we have received disturbing reports of non-payment of January salaries in about 14 Federal Polytechnics. This is currently unsettling the sector, particularly with the current state of affairs in the country, he said.
Speaking further on other demands of the union, Ezeibe explained that the government in recent times had been on the issue of the revitalisation fund approved to address the needs assessment report of public Polytechnics in 2014.
He added, The renegotiation of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement which commenced in 2017 is yet to resume after submissions made by the union covering key aspects that affect the polytechnic system like compensation package for members, certification profile for Polytechnics, post-service concerns of members, appropriate funding for the sector, regulation/ supervision issues, etc.
“The government team is yet to respond to the union’s demands as contained in the ASUP charter of demands despite assurances from the government as it is expected that the completion of the process will usher in a sustained period of stability in the sector”, among other issues.
