Senate Intervenes In ASUP’s 67-day-old Strike

After 67 days of strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics ASUP, the association have caught the attention of the National Assembly, as the Senate ahs now waded into the crisis.

President of ASUP, Dr. Chibuzor Asomugha, said yesterday that the Senate Committee on Education has intervened to end the protracted industrial action.

“The Senate Committee has pledged to intervene and meet with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Office of Accountant-General of the Federation with a view to sorting out issues around the completion of appointment of members of governing councils of six polytechnics and the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) imbroglio.”

Describing the ASUP meeting with Senate Committee as fruitful, Asomugha said “specific assignments were given to different stakeholders with Tuesday next week as deadline for results.”

Present at the intervention meeting were members of the Senate Committee on Education, Education Minister, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufa’i and Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu.

Also present were Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, Dr. Mas’udu A. Kazaure; National Publicity Secretary, ASUP, Mr. Clement Chairman; Permanent Secretary (Education) and Director of Establishment (Head Of Service)

ASUP embarked on a nationwide indefinite strike on April 29 over what they termed Federal Government’s insensitivity to its demands.

The union is asking government to adequately fund polytechnics, appoint qualified rectors in Nigerian Polytechnics, and resolve the issue of integrated polytechnic pay-roll system, among others.

ASUP’s university counterparts, ASUU started its own nationwide strike earlier in the week.