Kaduna Poly backs out of ASUP strike
It’s no longer news that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) on Monday embarked on a nationwide one week industrial action over irregularities in payment of salaries and allowances amongst other demands.
Mr. Usman Dutse, the National President of the union told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) through a telephone conversation that the warning strike would end on Feb. 6. And that the strike will affect all federal and state-owned polytechnics and Colleges of Technology.
He said that after the warning strike, the union would hold a National Executive Council meeting to decide the next line of action.
ASUP Chairman, Yaba College of Technology chapter, Mr. Adeyemi Aromolaran, also confirmed the chapter’s readiness to comply with the directive on the national strike.
“Yes, we have been directed to commence a one-week strike by our national body. We are holding a congress now to deliberate on the issue and we are ready to comply with the directive.” he said.
Lecturers of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu Chapter, also complied with the strike directive. The General Secretary, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), LASPOTECH chapter, Mr Uthman Olayinka confirmed the institution’s involvement.
Olayinka said the strike was total and comprehensive as “all lecturers are expected not to lecture or participate in any academic activity until the strike elapses’’.
He said that the union had informed the management of the action and also sent a letter of notification to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State.
However, the Kaduna Polytechnics Chapter of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics said that it would not participate in the warning strike ordered by the NEC of the union.
Dr. Aliyu Ibrahim, ASUP, Kaduna Polytechnic chapter Chairman, told NAN in Kaduna that the chapter was not part of the decision to embark on the strike and had not received any communication on the matter.
“Ideally, the national executives should have invited all the chairmen of the chapters before arriving at that decision. I was not invited to any meeting and have not received any official letter on the planned warning strike” He said.
Ibrahim advised students of the polytechnic to be in school, adding that all academic staff would be in class.
