Polytechnic lecturers in the South-South and South-East have endorsed the 21-day ultimatum issued to the Federal Government over unresolved issues affecting polytechnic education in Nigeria. The ultimatum took effect on August 18.
Dr Illoma Richard, the ASUP Zone D coordinator, reaffirmed the position of the lecturers during an emergency meeting of the Zonal Executive Council on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.
Richard recalled that the union had suspended a two-week strike in December 2024 to allow for engagement with the government. However, he lamented that despite the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP)’s best efforts to reach a speedy resolution, no significant progress has been made in eight months.
“Instead, most of the issues have degenerated to pitiable states, which may lead to the eventual collapse of technical and vocational education in Nigeria if nothing urgent is done,” he warned.
The contentious issues listed include the delayed approval of a dual mandate structure for polytechnics and the refusal to establish a dedicated regulatory commission for the polytechnic sector.
Others are the alleged military invasion and interference in ASUP activities at the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo, and the delay in implementing promotions and paying arrears dating back to 2019.
The union is also challenging the non-release of arrears from the 25 to 35 per cent salary review, and the non-implementation of the review in several state-owned institutions.
Further demands include the non-release of circulars for peculiar academic allowances, stalled NEEDS Assessment interventions, outsourcing of quality assurance activities, and the government’s refusal to renegotiate the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement, among others.
Richards also lamented the sustained discrimination against HND holders in the public service and the stalled discussions on CONTISS 15 arrears.
According to him, the demands have been well articulated by the union’s national leadership and formally transmitted to all relevant authorities with the subsisting three-week ultimatum.
“In light of this, we shall not hesitate to mobilize members across the South-South and South-East zones if the ultimatum expires without resolution,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ASUP Zone D comprises polytechnics and monotechnics in 11 states across the two geopolitical zones
