The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, on Friday described as hollow the defense by the Federal on the recent appointments of five Rectors in the Federal Polytechnics.
Consequently, ASUP vowed to use every legal means to ensure that the appointment of unqualified persons to head the Polytechnics would not stand. The union in a statement issued by its President, Comrade Anderson Ezeibe, also frowned at the postponement of the meeting with the Federal Government team on Thursday by the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige to resolve all the contentious issues that led to the ongoing strike which has entered its 10th day.
The statement, hOwever, commended efforts of the Federal Government in addressing some of the concerns raised by the union like the appointment of Governing Councils and Visitation Panels in the Polytechnics.
The statement which Ezeibe described as the update on the Current engagement between ASUP and the Federal Government read in part, Nigerians may recall that our Union commenced an industrial action effective 6th April 2021 to draw the attention of the government to the deplorable state of our public Polytechnics and Monotechnics.
“This is with a view to a reversal of the fortunes of the institutions and placing them on a strong pedestal towards meeting their obligations to the Nigerian people.
“The industrial action, currently in its 10th day has witnessed strong compliance levels by Chapters of our Union across the nation and has led to some knee jerk reactions from the government both at the Federal and State levels.
“The Union has been involved in 2 out of 3
scheduled meetings with the Federal Government as represented by top officials of the Federal Ministry of Education as well as Labour and Employment on the 6th and 14th of April, 2021.
“While holding our position in the trenches of this ongoing engagement (until a time the organs of our Union deem fit), we shall sustain the current engagements with the government particularly in furthering and establishing the gains of the engagements of the 6th and 14th of April 2021.
“Details of these shall also be made known to the public at the appropriate time”.
