The lecturers stated their position in a communiqué released on Saturday.
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, announced on Saturday that it has resolved to resume its suspended nationwide strike from next week, following failure of the federal government to fulfil its agreement with the union.
The union had been on several weeks of strike, but suspended it on July 17 following the intervention of federal lawmakers in its negotiation with the federal government.
The National Publicity Secretary of the union, Chirman Clement, in a statement on Saturday said the union took the decision at her 75th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State and resolved to resume the suspended strike on October 4.
“In view of the continued insincerity of Government to honour the agreement reached with ASUP, NEC resolves that the union will resume the suspended strike with effect from 4th October, 2013.
The lecturers also lamented the decaying standard of polytechnic education and solicited the assistance of the National Assembly, parents, and other notable groups to assist in revamping polytechnic education in Nigeria.
They passed a vote of no confidence on the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, and called for the immediate establishment of a National Polytechnics Commission (NPC) to proactively cater for the needs of the sector.
Below is the full communiqué released by the polytechnic lecturers.
COMMUNIQUE OF THE 75TH NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) OF THE ACADEMIC STAFF UNION OF POLYTECHNICS (ASUP) HELD AT FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC, BIDA NIGER STATE, FROM 24 – 28TH SEPTEMBER, 2013 PREAMBLE:
The National Executive Council (NEC) of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) met for her 75th NEC Meeting at the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger State where the following national issues were observed, discussed, and resolutions on them were reached:
OBSRVATIONS:
1. The frustrating inertia of the Federal Government to convincingly fulfill any of the promises and agreements reached with the union before the suspension of the strike on 17th July, 2013 on CONTISS 15 Migration for Lower cadres, Needs Assessment of Polytechnics, release of Whitepaper of visitation to Federal polytechnics, discrimination between polytechnics and university graduates in job placement and career progression and the constitution of Governing Councils to Federal polytechnics earlier omitted.
2. The anti-labour stance of the National Assembly as exemplified by the recently proposed removal of minimum wage from the exclusive legislative list of the constitution to the concurrent list; as well as the proposed legislation against declaration of Industrial Strike by unions in the tertiary sector;
3. The growing tension in the nation’s polity as a result of the volatile comments and activities of politicians and interest groups;
4. Government’s abuse of the laws establishing TETfund;
5. The culpable lack of commitment of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to meeting the needs and demands of polytechnic education in Nigeria.
6. Appointment of rectors/provosts from within polytechnic/monotechnics sector
RESOLUTIONS: In the light of the above, NEC resolves:
1. That Government should without delay address all the outstanding standing issues including the NEEDS Assessments of the polytechnics and the corresponding funding, constitution of the Governing Councils of the remaining Federal polytechnics, CONITSS 15 Migration of the Lower Cadres, the removal of disparity between HND and Degree certificates, establishment of the National Polytechnics Commission (NPC), release of the Whitepaper of the visitation panels to polytechnics;
2. That the National Assembly should rescind from its current anti-labour posture in the interest of industrial peace and our desperate move to rescue the endangered soul of the tertiary institutions in the country;
3. That the National Assembly should expedite action on the review of the Polytechnic Act;
4. That a vote of no confidence be passed the NBTE and further calls for the immediate establishment of a National Polytechnics Commission (NPC) to proactively cater for the needs of the sector;
5. That the Nigerian political class and other interest groups should exercise restraint on their utterances and activities in the interest of peace, unity and security of the nation;
6. That the Federal Government should desist from abuse of TETfund laws;
7. That stakeholders in the education sector such as parents, students, religious leaders, the press, members of States and National assemblies to rise to their responsibilities of rescuing the (polytechnic) education sector from imminent collapse;
8. That the position of ASUP on the need to appoint the rectors from within the polytechnic system remains irreversible;
9. That in view of the continued insincerity of Government to honour the agreement reached with ASUP, NEC resolves that the union will resume the suspended strike with effect from 4th October, 2013. NEC sincerely appreciates the good people of Nigeria and all other stakeholders in the education sector for their sustained support in its struggles to save the polytechnic education from total collapse in Nigeria.
Signed
Chirman Clement Selchum
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