Lecturers in the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) have announced their plan to embark on a nationwide strike.
The union stated this in a statement made available to newsmen where it was stated that the nationwide strike will begin on the 11th of May.
ASUP National President, Anderson Umezurike Ezeibe had previously hinted that the industrial action would commence in early February 2022.
While addressing who was addressing members of the union at Hussain Adamu Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure,Ezeibe said the union called off its strike on June 10, 2021 based on agreements reached with the Federal Government.
A report which emerged on Tuesday (today), ASUP declared it will commence another nationwide strike action in protest against the non-implementation of the Memorandum of Action reached with the Federal Government in May 2021.
The Zonal Coordinator of Zone D, which comprises of South-South and South-East states, Precious Nwakodo, disclosed this at a press briefing held in Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, on Monday.
According to Nwakodo, the planned strike was hinged on the yet-to-be-met demands among which are; the non-release of the N15billion Revitalisation Fund approved over a year for the sector to address infrastructural deficit as contained in the 2014 Needs Assessment Report.
Nwakodo said that, “Following the discouraging response of the government to the one month notice of ultimatum which ended five days ago, May 4 the NEC of the union will be meeting in two days in Abuja to review the situation and make a decision on the planned strike.”
ASUP regretted that the federal government failed to commence the payment of 10 months arrears of the new minimum wage after three years of signing the bill into law, stressing that many states of the federation were yet to implement the new minimum wage in the various institutions.
The union also decried the manner in which the management of the Polytechnics and Ministry of Education continued to take actions that were clearly in contrast with the provisions of the law.
Nwakodo challenged the Federal and state governments to accede swiftly to the demands of the academic staff to avoid a strike in the interest of the students and parents.
He also appealed to members of the chapter to support the decision of the national body on the planned strike, adding that the planned strike was a collective decision and in the best interest of members and the polytechnic sector.
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