The 15-day ultimatum set by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) for the Federal Government to fulfill its demands is set to expire on October 23.
The union has warned that it will initiate a strike if the government fails to resolve issues surrounding the controversial new scheme of service for polytechnic lecturers nationwide.
As the deadline nears, an increasing number of lecturers have supported the ASUP National Executive Council’s call to mobilize members to withdraw their services once the ultimatum expires.
Dr. Iloma Richard, ASUP Zone D Coordinator, informed the News Agency of Nigeria in Port Harcourt on Wednesday that the government has not yet addressed the contentious issues related to the new guidelines. He noted that ASUP had suspended its planned industrial action on July 22 after the Federal Government intervened, directing the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to review the disputed guidelines.
“The strike was put on hold to create a conducive environment for the prompt resolution of all contentious issues through stakeholder engagement,” Richard explained.
“Unfortunately, as I speak, no progress has been made in this regard due to the apparent reluctance of the NBTE. The union has also observed, with concern, a similar indifference from the government regarding the other welfare needs of our members,” he stated.
The union leader emphasized the alleged neglect of quality control in polytechnic education, warning that if this issue is not addressed, it could lead to the downfall of technical and vocational education in the country.