Release our N15bn revitalization funds to avoid a strike, Poly Lecturers tells FG

The Academic Staff Union polytechnics, ASUP once again warned the federal government not to wait until they start to take industrial action before they allocate the agreed 15 billion Naira as revitalization funds to the country’s public polytechnics.

The lecturers stated that if the government refuses to release funds and meet the other terms of their previous agreement, their earlier stance was not to give another warning strike before going into total and indefinite industrial action.

Dr. Anderson Ezeby, President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), gave this hint in an online interview with the Tribune on Wednesday.

He said that it was frustrating and unfortunate that the federal government was unable to implement what he called a simple voluntary agreement after seven months.

According to him, by the government’s agreement to inject 15 billion nairas into the system, we suspended the last industrial strike lasting about 65 days in April, but seven months later up to now, the government doesn’t honor its agreement. He added:

“Approval letter that is not translated to real money, it is a mere paper and that is Nigeria government for you using the same tactic with other unions including ASUU and resident doctors,

The boss of ASUP said that union members are not happy with the way and manner the government is taking issues of public importance such as the implementation of items in their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) since April.

He said that from the 15 billion revitalization funds that the government should now release according to his statement, it is expected that the government will also release funds to pay the minimum wage arrears of members and other public polytechnic employees.

He said that the government can only do one thing that does not involve money, such as setting up a team and appointing a management committee to renegotiate the 2010 agreement, while ignoring projects involving money.

However, Eziebe stated that the union is currently preparing for the National Congress to be held in the first week of December.