Strike: ASUP Berates FG’s Response

The President, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Comrade C.B. Asomugha, on Wednesday described government’s response to its current strike as haphazard and unconvincing, saying the strike became necessary following the snail speed pace of the review of the Federal Polytechnics Act at the National Assembly.

Asomugha, noted during a Press Conference held at Rich Crest Hotel, Enugu, that: “Since the commencement of the indefinite strike by the Union, government’s response has been haphazard and unconvincing. Till date, the white paper on the visitation panels to the Federal Polytechnics set up by the Federal Government nearly two years ago is yet to be released. This is a clear indication of neglect as the Governing councils set up are expected to be implementing the recommendations from the white paper. It is worrisome that after spending millions of tax payers’ funds on the exercise which lasted for a month, no report has been released leaving the inaugurated Councils rudderless.”

Condemning the nonchallant attitude of Federal Government towards polytechnic education, Asomugha noted that other issues at the centre of the current engagement are: “The need for the constitution of Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics, the migration of the lower cadres on the CONTISSS 15 salary scale, the release of the white paper on the visitations to Federal Polytechnics, the need for the commencement of the needs assessment of Nigerian Polytechnics, the worrisome state of state owned Polytechnics in the country, the continued appointment of unqualified persons as Rectors and Provosts of Nigerian Polytechnics and Monotechnics by governments.”

[Vanguard]