ASUP Strike: Lecturers want Nigerian government to resolve disparity between university, polytechnic graduates

ASUP laments the discrimination between polytechnics and universities employees.
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to urgently address its demands on the disparities between polytechnics and universities employees in the public sector.
The president of the union, Chibuzo Asomugha, made the called when he addressed journalists in Kaduna.
He said it was unfortunate that almost six months into its strike, the Federal Government was yet to invite the lecturers to the negotiation table.
“While the government is busy intervening in other sectors where workers have been on strike or threatening strike, it has remained nonchalant about responding to the cry of our union”, he said.
He said the Federal Government had reneged in the implementation of the promises it made which made the union to initially suspend its strike.
Mr. Asomugha said ASUP was only compelled to resume its strike when all entreaties to make the government honour its promises failed.
“The situation we have at hand has sadly encouraged brain-drain as most lecturers take the polytechnic sector as transit camp to their preferred university system,” he said.
The ASUP president said the union was poised to continue with the strike until its demands were met by the authorities.
The teachers demanded the constitution of Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics, which has since been done.
They are also demanding the release of the White Paper on Visitations to Federal Polytechnics. The polytechnic teachers also want the commencement of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Polytechnics.
The Supervising Minister for Education, Nyesom Wike, at a meeting with the Committee of Pro-Chancellors of Federal Polytechnics said the Federal Government had met over 80 per cent of ASUP demands.
He said the only thing left to do is the release of the white-paper on the implementation of their demands.
(NAN)