ASUP’s strike grounds polytechnics

MANY polytechnics nationwide were completely deserted yesterday due to the indefinite strike embarked upon by members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).
Some chapters of the union in other polytechnics refused to join the strike.
The union accused the Federal Government of neglecting polytechnics and keeping silent about its requests since February when it went on strike for about two weeks.
YABATECH complies with
directive, LASPOTECH differs
In Lagos State, the Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) chapter of ASUP complied with the directive of the union’s national leadership.
When The Nation visited the institution yesterday, there were no classes going on.
YABATECH ASUP Chairman Mr. Adeyemi Aromolaran said the union would hold its congress tomorrow to discuss more about the strike.
The institution’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Charles Oni, however, said the indefinite strike only affected full-time students and not those undergoing part time programmes.
On the contrary, academic activities ran unhindered at the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu.
Its Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Relations, Mr. Olanrewaju Kuye, said the local ASUP congress had sacked its leaders on November 8, 2017 and so could not join the strike.
 
Ibadan Poly deserted
The Polytechnic, Ibadan was completely deserted yesterday due to the strike.
The situation is compounded by the strike embarked upon by other categories of workers in the institution, which began on Friday November 3.
Members of staff of the Oyo State-owned tertiary institutions embarked on strike to protest what they described as poor funding of the institution.
The Oyo State Government had slashed their subventions to 25 per cent early last year, directing them to look inward and increase Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to plug shortfall in funding.
The decision was taken at the height of economic recession that hit the country since 2015.
When The Nation visited the institution yesterday, the entire campus looked deserted.
A member of ASUP, who spoke with The Nation in confidence explained that the institution was not in session, adding that the campus was deserted, not because of the nationwide ASUP strike but due to the earlier strike action by both academic and non-academic staff of the institution.
 
Kadpoly ASUP joins strike
Academic activities were paralysed yesterday in the four campuses of Kaduna Polytechnic, as the local chapter of ASUP joined their colleagues nationwide in the strike.
The polytechnic ASUP chapter returned from its own local strike about a month ago over issues concerning members’ welfare.
Chairman of the chapter, Dr. Aliyu Hassan Ibrahim, in a statement yesterday, said the strike was to make the Federal Government honour agreements reached with the union in 2014.
He said: “The Kaduna Polytechnic chapter of ASUP has joined its colleagues nationwide to embark on an indefinite strike action, which commenced yesterday.
“The union’s demands include implementation of the NEEDS assessment report of polytechnics, amendment of the polytechnic act, which has been pending before the National Assembly for a long time, implementation of CONTISS 15 migration for staff on the lower cadre as well as the payment of its arrears.”
He called on members of the polytechnic to fully comply with the industrial action until the government accede to their requests.
 
Offa Poly observes action,
‘Kwara Poly not on strike’
The strike action was a success yesterday at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State.
Spokesperson of the institution Yinka Iroye told The Nation on phone that the lecturers acceded to the directive of their umbrella body.
But that was not the same with the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin, as academic activities were ongoing when The Nation visited the main campus of the institution.
Spokesperson of the institution, Yunus Abdulkadir, said: “Our teachers are not on strike. We are not owing salaries.
“Most importantly, there is no union on our campus. Everything is calm here.”
 
Activities paralyse in Kano Poly, Audu Bako College
Academic activities were grounded to a halt at Kano State Polytechnic and Audu Bako College of Agriculture, following the indefinite strike.
When The Nation visited the two campuses of the higher institutions, it was observed that students and lecturers had virtually vacated the premises as the entrance gates were locked.
The ASUP Chairman, Kano Polytechnic Chapter, Dr. Ibrahim Usman Aikawa, said the institution joined the strike in compliance with the directive of ASUP National Executive Council (NEC), “which we are part of”.
Dr. Aikawa, however, noted that ASUP in Kano State Polytechnic and Audu Bako College of Agriculture have no grievances against Kano State government as all their demands and entitlements were being met by Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje.
 
Three Delta state-owned polys shun directive
Academic activities were in full swing at the three Delta State-owned polytechnics yesterday as ASUP members ignored the call by their national body.
The Nation’s investigation revealed  that students at  three institutions, including the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Isoko North; Delta State Polytechnic ,Otefe, Ethiope West and Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku , Aniocha South, were seen attending lectures.
Fresh students at the three polytechnics resumed yesterday for the first semester academic session and many were seen completing their registration processes.
A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity at Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, said the schools were observing the situation and may join the industrial action from next week.
 
Lecturers avoid Bayelsa
Polytechnic, others
The Federal Polytechnic, Ekeowei, Bayelsa State and other affiliate academic institutions yesterday complied with the nationwide strike.
It was gathered that members of ASUP avoided the campuses and resolved not to resume academic activities pending directives from their national body.
Other affiliate institutions, which joined are the Bayelsa State College of Art and Science (BYCAS) and the state’s College of Health Technology.
A lecturer, who identified himself as Abara, said the industrial action was complied with and advised the government to quickly resolved the issues raised by the union.
When contacted, the Chairman of ASUP, Bayelsa State Chapter, Mr. Adubazi Onimisi, said if the issues were not resolved, the strike would encroach on the November 24 resumption date.
 
Students, workers desert
Rivers Poly campus
In Rivers State, the strike was total at the state-owned polytechnic, Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, in Bori, Khana Local Government Area – formerly Rivers state Polytechnic, Bori.
Students and staff members, especially lecturers, deserted the campus.
The institution’s ASUP Chairman, Ferry Barineka Gberegbe, who confirmed the development to The Nationyesterday afternoon, said the school would not compromise the ASUP’s national directive.
Gberegbe said:  “Apart from the national issues, we at the state government institution also have our own issues with our employer, which ordinarily we can also embark on strike.”
Asked what the issues were, he said: “Non-implementation of promotion funds in the school from 2015 till date, whereas it is being implemented in Port Harcourt Polytechnic. Again the outstanding five monthly check-off dues of last year (February to June, 2016) have not been remitted to us up till now.
“Also, the pension contributions of members between February and June, 2016 has equally not been paid. Again the government is withholding the retirement contribution of our members for the colleagues, who retired in February and March, 2016. To us, these are also very serious issues.”
 
Lecturers cripple
Federal Poly, Anambra
The strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has crippled activities at the Federal Polytechnics Oko, Anambra State.
But the public relations officer (PRO) of the institution, Mr. Obini Onuchukwu, told The Nation yesterday that the school had to join because it was a national issue.
He said when the institution was notified, it had no option than to join others, even though, according to him, they were aware that industrial action was one of the steps that disorganised school calendar and made academic records unachievable.
He said: “However, we had no option than to join the strike and that is why the entire place is empty now.”
 
Auchi Poly heeds directive
Members of ASUP in Federal Polytechnic, Auchi in Edo State yesterday paralysed academic activities in the institution by joining in the nationwide strike.
Lecture halls and offices were locked when The Nation visited the campus.
Some graduating students who came for project supervision were seen leaving.
Chairman of the Auchi Polytechnic Branch of ASUP Mr. Justin Momodu said his members complied with the national directive to proceed on the strike .
 
Polytechnics in Benue
State shun strike
There was no strike in any of the polytechnics in Benue State.
There is one state government-owned polytechnic called Benue Polytechnic Ugbokolo, located in Okpokwu local government area in Benue south .
There are numerous private polytechnics in the state. Popular among them are Fidel Polytechnic Gboko, Ashi Polytechnic Anyiin, among others .
No federal Polytechnic is located in Benue State
|The Nation