Tag: ASUP

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EDUCATION NEWS & LIFE

2024 budgetary provisions: ASUP appeals for upward review for education

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has appealed to the Federal Government to ensure an upward review of the budgetary provisions for education in the 2024 appropriation bill before the National Assembly.

ASUP President, Mr Anderson Ezeibe, said this at a news conference, ahead of the union’s 17th biennial national delegates conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

He condemned the 7 per cent earmarked for education in the current budget.

According to Ezeibe, the current bill before the National Assembly indicates that 7.8 per cent is provided for the education sector.

“This implies that the country is further away from a solution to the underfunding in the sector.

“An upward review is imperative in order to reflect actual needs for the sector. This will ensure the
total withdrawal of the 2021 circular requesting institutions to make remittances of their internally-generated funds.

“Also, it will ensure the immediate implementation of the approved new wage structure of 35 per cent and 25 per cent for chief lecturers and other categories of staff in the sector with the arrears,” he said.

He also said that the polytechnics in the country were at the verge of being wiped out.

He noted that many young people were no longer interested in attending polytechnics as government had de-marketed the institution.

He said government had continued to maintain a disparity between higher national diploma (HND) offered by polytechnics and bachelors degrees offered by universities.

The ASUP president also said that there was confusion in the polytechnic system as many have been operating without the full complement of their governance structures since June 2023.

He noted that unqualified and incompetent persons were being appointed to run some of the institutions.

“Some of these polytechnics are actually in confused state as processes for the appointment of principal officers have been disrupted.

“Staff appraisal processes cannot be concluded, staff disciplinary processes cannot be concluded and other statutory duties of the governing councils cannot be executed.

“We also have the continued retention of persons described as unfit and unqualified to be appointed rectors in five new federal polytechnics in Monguno, Shendam, Wannune, Ugep and Ohodo.

“This can only be interpreted from the perspective of the government deliberately undermining proper administration of the affected polytechnics,” he said.

He said that the disregard for extant laws in the appointment of principal officers in these polytechnics by the federal government had emboldened different state governments to tow the same path.

He also noted that several state governments were also in the business of violating their own laws in principal officers’ appointment processes.

Ezeibe called for the immediate reconstitution of all dissolved governing councils of polytechnics in accordance with extant rules.

He called for the removal of the five unfit and unqualified persons currently pretending to be rectors of the new federal polytechnics in the country

Ezeibe called for the stoppage of the appointment of unqualified persons as principal officers in polytechnics in Nigeria;.

He also called for the immediate release of the scheme of service for polytechnics and the faithful implementation of the approved roadmap for the education sector particularly.

According to Ezeibe, a national commission for polytechnics should be set up and polytechnics granted degree-awarding status.

He also called for the release of owed promotion arrears; the unconditional release of the eight months owed salaries of university staff in the country..

Ezeibe urged the federal government to return to the table to enable a proper renegotiation of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement, amongst others.

“While we expect the government to work assiduously towards a revamp of the education sector, we expect that the issues highlighted in this document should be given requisite attention.

“These are key items undermining the functionality of the education sector in general and polytechnic education in particular.” Ezeibe said.

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EDUCATION

Academic Staff union of polytechnic demands constitution of council, appointment of rector

ASUP
ASUP

The Academic Staff Union of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, on Tuesday called on Gov. Dapo Abiodun to urgently constitute the Governing Council of the institution.

It stated that there was also the need for the governor to appoint a substantive Rector for the school to avoid a fresh crisis.

The polytechnic’s management, however, pleaded that the institution was self-sustaining and the union should keep its demands within.

Chairman of the union, Mr Babatunde Osifalujo, stated that Gov. Abiodun’s quick intervention was needed to ensure payment of November and December salaries to workers.

This, he added, would enable the workers to celebrate Christmas and the New Year.

He listed other demands to include immediate payment of more than three session’s honoraria and stoppage of accumulation of “part-time’’ claims.

“Union is also worried about the delay in staff promotion and appointments as well as implementation of the new minimum wage in the institution.

Also read;Plateau varsity ASUU commences indefinite strike

“It is worried about the delay in the implementation of resolved matters like pension payments, entitlements and plight of polytechnic retirees and non-remittance of union outstanding check-off dues.

“We urge the governor to attend to these issues without further delay,’’ Osifalujo stated.

He stressed that only the implementation of the demands would ensure industrial harmony in the institution, calling on Gov. Abiodun to reciprocate the gesture of the union by acting on agreements reached.

In a swift reaction, the polytechnic’s management said that it remained a self-sustaining institution.

Mr Oluyemi Ajibola, the spokesman, noted that the state government was not collecting revenue from the polytechnic which made the institution self-dependent.

Ajibola urged the union to exercise patience, saying the management was working tirelessly to meet its demands.

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EDUCATION

ASUP urges state governments to fund state owned polytechnics

ASUP
ASUP

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) on Wednesday urged state governments to invest more on state owned polytechnics for effective operations.

Mr Anderson Ezeibe, President, ASUP, made the call at the opening of a week long National Delegates Conference of the Union in Asaba.

Ezeibe said that most of the government owned polytechnics depend solely on Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to function.

“In June when we returned from strike , we were given a document showing the approval for the release of N15 billion as revitalisation of the infrastructural fund in lieu of the implementation of the need assessment reports of 2014.

“Six months down the line, not a penny has been released. If you get to some polytechnics, you will see that a lot of them are TETfund institutions, that is why we are talking about stopping the issue of proliferation of polytechnics.

“If you are not ready to fund the existing institutions do not establish more, do not establish polytechnics just because you want to attract TETfund, ” he said.

Ezeibe decried the non appropriation of capital expenditure in many state owned polytechnics.

“In so many state owned polytechnics, capital appropriation is virtually non existence, every single infrastructure, is sponsored by TETfund.

“If you want to establish a polytechnic, bear in mind to meet the educational and technological needs of your people,” he said.

Ezeibe also called for the appointment of qualified persons as rectors of polytechnics.

Also speaking, Mrs Francisca Nwafulugo, Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra, said that her administration has provided conducive environment that would engender performance from staff.

“Some of the achievements made so far include the payment of large tranch of arrears of earned allowances which we inherited.

“We also conducted International Computer Driving License training for over 100 teaching and non teaching staff.

Also read;NSCDC subdue protests at Fed. Poly

“Quality education is what we owe our teeming students, as stakeholders in the education sector, so, we all must rise up to the task,” she said.

Phenomenal reports that the week long Delegate Conference which was billed to hold at the Federal Polytechnic Oko in Anambra was held in Asaba.

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ASUP urges FG, states to pay arrears of minimum wage

Eniola Olorundare

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has called on the Federal and some state governments to pay outstanding arrears of the minimum wage to its members as contained in the Memorandum of Action (MoA).

The union also frowned at the delays in the release of the approved N15 billion Revitalisation Fund, non payment of salaries to its members in some state owned institutions, and non commencement of the renegotiation of the 2010 agreement.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Abdullahi Yelwa, ASUP’s National Publicity Secretary, on Sunday in Bauchi.

Yelwa said that the decisions were reached during the 101st Regular ASUP National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State.

The statement read in parts: “ASUP equally expressed dismay at recent reports of infractions in the process of appointment of Principal Officers in Federal Polytechnics and some state-owned polytechnics in disregard to the provisions in the extant laws.

“The union particularly noted the events at the Federal Polytechnics, Ekowe, Offa and Mubi, where the process of appointment of Rectors were flawed, leading to the shortlisting of unqualified persons.

“The union notes that the council affairs in Federal Polytechnics, Oko, Offa, Auchi and Kaura Namoda has been relocated to the FCT without due consideration to the cost implication on the institutions, safety of staff and sensitive documents as well as general administration of the affected institutions.”

Yelwa, however, said that members of the public should hold government responsible in the event of breakdown of industrial harmony, adding that the union and its members had shown considerable patience and restraint.

“In view of the unsatisfactory status of implementation of the MoA signed between the union and government in April 2021.

“The union once again demand that the government should without further delay ensure the release of the arrears of the Minimum Wage to staff and release the approved Revitalisation Fund for the sector.

“Government should set up the implementation committee to administer the fund, recommence the renegotiation of the union’s 2010 agreement and withdraw institutional accreditation to state owned institutions where staff are owed salaries.

“The union equally urged the government to revisit the appointment processes for principal officers in Federal Polytechnics, Ekowe, Offa and Mubi, to ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act,” it said.

According to Yelwa, the union will deepen its consultations on the next action as there will be no further warnings if the government failed to meet its demands.

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EDUCATION HEADLINES

ASUP kicks as FG allegedly appoints 5 ‘unqualified rectors’ in new polytechnics

ASUP
ASUP

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has accused the Federal Government of appointing five unqualified persons as rectors in newly established federal polytechnics, in violation of the subsisting Act.

The ASUP National President, Mr Anderson Ezeibe, who stated this at the 100th National Executive Council meeting of the union in Auchi, on Wednesday, said that the Federal Government violated the Federal polytechnics Amendment Act, 2019, in the appointment of the rectors.

According to him, the law allowed for only people within the cadre of Chief Lecturer, with a minimum of five years experience to be appointed.

“Recently, the Federal Government announced the establishment of six new federal polytechnics in Cross River, Oyo, Plateau, Benue and Borno States.

“Five out of the six rectors that were appointed into these newly established polytechnics did not possess the requisite qualifications,” he said, adding that the union had already gone to court to challenge the appointments.

“We have an order of court for substituted service, we also have an order to join the five persons appointed illegally,” he said.

Speaking further, the ASUP president urged the Edo state government to pay the five months salary arrears owed staff of the State Polytechnic.

In his speech, the Deputy Governor, Mr Philips Shaibu said the state government was aware of the lingering labour issues at the state polytechnic and that adequate steps were being taken to address the issues.

Represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Jimoh Ijegbai, the deputy governor commended the union for its cooperation and patience with the government in the face of the crisis.

Mustapha Zubair, Rector, Auchi Polytechnic, expressed worry over the low ratings of polytechnics in the country, noting that the Polytechnic Act had well established criteria which, those in charge of the sector should endeavour to uphold.

The rector urged ASUP to always adopt dialogue in seeking redress, saying, “dialogue is the best tool in making agitations”.

“The just concluded strike by the union has yielded positive results, N15 billion has been released for the development of polytechnics in Nigeria,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Lawani Jimoh, Chairman, Auchi Polytechnic chapter of ASUP, said that industrial harmony was gradually being built between the union and the polytechnic’s management.

“We are looking forward to the implementation of CONTISS 15 migration for the lower cadre officers in August.

“We (also) expect management to reciprocate by paying the promotion arrears of staff promoted in 2016,” he said.

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EDUCATION HEADLINES NEWS & LIFE

ASUP suspends 2 months’ strike

Interventions: ASUP appeals toTETFund to reconsider Lafia Polytechnic

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) on Wednesday suspended its two-month-old nationwide strike.

ASUP’s National Publicity Secretary, Mr Abdullahi Yalwa, made the disclosure in a press statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

He said that the suspended would take effect from Thursday (June 10).

ASUP embarked on a nationwide strike on April 6, to press home its demands.

The union’s grievances include poor state of public polytechnics and monotechnics and non-payment of 10 months’ arrears of the new minimum wage.

NAN reports that the Federal Government had offered to release N15 million for revitalisation of polytechnics and monotechnics and release money for payment of the arrears of minimum wage.

Yalwa said that ASUP suspended the strike in view of the progress made in its discussions with Federal Government.

“Following appraisal of a report indicating gradual implementation of the items contained in the memorandum of action signed between our union and the Federal Government, the union has resolved to suspend its 65-day-old industrial action with effect from June 10.

”The suspension is for a period of three months to enable the government complete execution of the items contained in the memorandum of action signed with the union since April, 27,” he said.

Yalwa noted that some demands had been met by the government, including reconstitution and inauguration of governing councils and visitation panels in federal oolytechnics.

”We are led to believe that the release of funds for infrastructure revitalisation and minimum wage arrears is currently being processed, “he said.

Yalwa also said that efforts were ongoing at reviewing the Scheme of Service and Conditions of Service for Polytechnics.

He added that work had begun toward resolution of issues around CONTISS 15 migration arrears for the lower cadre.

He added that the union also acknowledged the recent passage of a bill for removal of dichotomy against Higher National Diploma holders.

”In reaching the decision to suspend the strike, our union took into cognizance appeals made by the government, revered traditional stools, National Assembly, chairmen of governing councils of federal polytechnics and the members of the public who showed varied interests in the matter.

”It is the expectation of our union that the suspension of this action will provide an enabling environment for the government to fulfill other aspects of the memorandum of action and afford the government an opportunity to reverse its trust deficit within our sector.

”We appreciate the different layers of intervention by critical stakeholder groups in the sector within the period,” he said.

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EDUCATION HEADLINES

ASUP strike: Students barricade Federal Secretariat demand FG’s intervention

Interventions: ASUP appeals toTETFund to reconsider Lafia Polytechnic

The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) Thursday in Abuja staged a protest calling for immediate negotiation to end the lingering strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic Staff (ASUP).

The angry students, who barricaded the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Education, carrying placards with various inscriptions, urged the Federal Government to listen to the cries of the students and their lecturers.

Speaking with newsmen the President of NAPS, Mr Sunday Asuku, called on both parties to reach a compromise or risk nationwide protest by the students.

“We are here to demand for immediate reopening of our tertiary institutions. ASUP has been on strike for two months now and nothing has been done about it.

“Government is not saying anything about this and we want them to reopen the schools now or else we are not leaving.

“We have written to them but they have declined. The Federal Government workers are being paid their salaries and allowances likewise our lecturers, so who is going to pay the students for time wastage,” he said.

Asuku added that the students’ body had reached out to ASUP which had promised to shift ground if the government would yield to their demands.

“ASUP demanded 15 items from the Federal Government but was only able to get two which to us is not commendable.

“As a student body, we are interested in the government paying the lecturers their minimum wage which is accrued to two years.

“Other MDAs have received theirs since Nov. 2019, why holding our lecturers to ransom. If you can give them this, then we have the right to hold them accountable for not teaching.

“We want the government to call ASUP back to a round table and give them what belongs to them, else by Monday, we will grind the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport,” he said.

However, the Minister of State for Education, Mr Chukuemeka Nwajiuba, while addressing the students said that everything that had to do with ASUP had been settled.

Nwajiuba said the onus now lied with the union to be fair on the students by calling off the strike.

“Everyone of us is pained by what is going on in the polytechnic sector of our education, many of us spoke with ASUP at the time of their warning strike that we are not running an adhoc government.

“Nothing ends today, even if I die today, Nigeria will continue and there is nothing that will stop Nigeria.

“When ASUP wanted to start this strike, we wrote them and said everything that ASUP requested for has been agreed upon, we do not have one area of disagreement.

On May 23, we communicated to ASUP and we have given them a catalog of everything that they said we should do that we have complied with,” he said.

Polytechnic teachers have been on strike for two months over the government’s inability to meet their demands.

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EDUCATION HEADLINES

ASUP calls for immediate release of N15bn revitalisation fund

Interventions: ASUP appeals toTETFund to reconsider Lafia Polytechnic

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has appealed to the Federal Government to release the N15 billion infrastructure revitalisation fund for the sector.

The ASUP President, Mr Anderson Ezeibe, made the call on Wednesday in Abuja.

ASUP had embarked on a nationwide strike on April 6, to press home its demands.

The union agitations include the sorry state of public polytechnics, monotechnic, non –payment of ten months arrears of new minimum wage among others.

It would be recalled that the government had offered the union the release of N15 billion for revitalisation and also the release of ten months arrears of minimum wage

According to Ezeibe, the union and the Federal Government had on April 27, signed a Memorandum of Action (MoA) to accelerate it implementation.

“We have already signed a resolution for the implementation of the MoA. The reason why we are still on strike is the non-implementation of the signed memorandum.

“There are items on the MoA that require immediate implementation. We expect the government to start implementing them,’’ he said.

The ASUP president, therefore, called for the immediate release of the minimum wage arrears to its members across the country.

He also called for the release of N15 billion revitalization funds for the sector.

He added that these were some of the items on the MoA that needed immediate attention for the union to call off the strike.

Ezeibe, however, commended the Federal Government for fulfilling some of the union demands in the MoA.

“We are getting to the end of it all by the grace of God, we expect the government to do more and release the necessary funds, in no distance time school will reopen, ’’Eezeibe said.

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EDUCATION

Interventions: ASUP appeals toTETFund to reconsider Lafia Polytechnic

Interventions: ASUP appeals toTETFund to reconsider Lafia Polytechnic

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has appealed to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to reconsider the Isa Musthapha Agwai Polytechnic Lafia, for interventions.

Mr Anderson Ezeibe, National President of ASUP made the call during a news conference after meeting with the union members at the polytechnic on Tuesday in Lafia.

According to Ezeibe, it is regrettable that ASUP members were refused TETFund sponsorship due to alleged diversion of monies for support by former management of the institution.

He said that activities of the former management denied the institution further access to TETfund grants, thereby preventing it from rapid infrastructure and human capital development.

“Some of our colleagues, who have gone for further studies under TETfund sponsorship, are currently stranded in the United Kingdom and other places due to lack of funds.

“TETfund has also placed an embargo on sponsoring further projects in the institution due to the embezzlement of monies for projects in the past,” the union leader said.

He urged the management of the institution and state government to punish those involved in the misappropriation of TETFund support in order to enable the institution to benefit again.

He also called on Gov. Abdullahi Sule, to ensure full implementation of the whitepaper by the investigative panel on the activities of the institution’s former management.

“Only the full implementation of the white paper will enable the institution to access TETfund’s support again,’’ he noted.

Ezeibe also appealed to the governor to implement the four years outstanding promotion and annual increments of members of the union.

The immediate past administration in the state constituted a panel to investigate activities of the former management of the institution and which it had submitted its report since January, 2019.

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EDUCATION

ASUP vows to continue nationwide strike

ASUP
ASUP

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has vowed to continue its indefinite strike until the Federal Government meets its demands.

The ASUP National President, Mr Anderson Ezeibe, made the union’s position known on Friday at an emergency congress held at the Federal polytechnic, Auchi in Edo.

ASUP had on April 6 embarked on a nationwide strike.

Among the demands of the union are implementation of the ASUP/FG agreement of 2010, and payment of salaries and arrears of the new minimum wage in some state-owned polytechnics.

Others are implementation of the NEEDS Assessment Report of 2014 and reconstitution of governing councils of polytechnics.

Ezeibe commended members of the union for complying with the strike directive, saying that the strike would continue until achievement of its aims.

“Our members should continue to believe in the union the way they have been doing, we have very supportive members as you can see; the strike is in full swing.

“Every polytechnic is observing the strike and compliance level is very high, we will continue to persevere, victory is around the corner,’’ he said.

He expressed satisfaction that the industrial action had begun to yield positive results.

“It is true that the government has started doing something.

“The one that has been done is the issue of governing councils that have been reconstituted and the visitation panels that have been set up.

“Offers have been made for the payment of arrears of minimum wage and the N15 billion infrastructure revitalisation fund; they are still at the level of offer because the funds have not been released.

“We want to see the funds released for the sector and we want to see some other items that require processes to be put in motion.

“If we are able to get to that point, I am sure our national executive committee will take a second look at the strike,’’ he said.

Ezeibe denied that N20 billion was collectively owed by 19 polytechnics staff members as tax liability.

According to him, such money has been deducted through the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax.

He said that the union would resist any attempt to deduct same from staff salaries.

“The Office of the Accountant General alleged that we have tax liabilities to pay; that is to say that staff of the 19 polytechnics are owing collectively about N20 billion.

“You know this money – pay as you earn tax – it is deducted from staff and paid to state boards of internal revenue where they exist.

“We are not owing this money and therefore are going to resist any attempt to deduct any money from our salaries to go and satisfy such a bill,’’ he said.

Earlier, the Chairman of ASUP, Auchi Polytechnic Chapter, Mr Lawani Jimoh, thanked the national president for coming to the polytechnic to inform members of the level of progress regarding the strike.

“For us at Auchi Polytechnic, our members are committed to continuing the strike until there is a directive from the national body,’’ Jimoh said.