The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has given the Federal Government 21 days to address a range of outstanding issues affecting the polytechnic education sector, warning that failure to act could lead to a nationwide strike disrupting academic activities.
One of the union’s key demands is the establishment of the National Polytechnics Commission — a dedicated regulatory body akin to those overseeing universities and colleges of education. ASUP expressed frustration over delays in the legislative process to establish the commission.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Friday, ASUP President, Shammah Kpanja, urged the Federal Ministry of Education to fast-track the transmission of the executive bill to the National Assembly.
Kpanja also criticised the continued reliance on external consultants for accreditation exercises in polytechnics, raising concerns about the competence and background of some of those engaged for the task.
The union reiterated its long-standing demand to “end the disparity in the treatment of Higher National Diploma holders compared to university degree holders, saying the persistent discrimination demoralises polytechnic graduates and hinders sectoral growth.”
Kpanja further decried the economic hardship facing polytechnic lecturers and accused the government of failing to fully implement provisions of the 2010 ASUP-FGN agreement, including the payment of the Peculiar Academic Allowance and the complete rollout of the 25–35% salary review, which ASUP said remains unimplemented despite being captured in the national budget.
The union also faulted the “removal of certain allowances from the federal budget and what it described as inadequate follow-up from agencies such as the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and the Federal Ministry of Education.”
ASUP noted that the situation is worse in state-owned polytechnics, where the new N70,000 national minimum wage is yet to be implemented in many states. It also expressed displeasure over the delay in releasing the second tranche of the approved NEEDS Assessment intervention fund, adding that no review has been conducted on how the first tranche was utilised.
The union called for “reforms in the current quality assurance model for polytechnics, advocating a more transparent and professionally managed process to safeguard educational standards.”
ASUP further stressed the need “to reconvene negotiations on the 2010 ASUP-FGN agreement, particularly on unresolved issues such as the payment of CONTISS 15 arrears and promotion arrears, some dating back to 2014 and 2019, respectively.”
Highlighting what it described as a lack of progress on multiple fronts, the ASUP National Executive Council resolved to issue a 21-day ultimatum to the government.
“The union may be compelled to declare a trade dispute and withdraw services across public polytechnics and monotechnics nationwide should these issues remain unresolved,” ASUP warned.
