Nigerian Polytechnic Lecturers Hold Crucial Meeting

Contrary to earlier reports that the ongoing strike of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, might be called off this week, latest reports indicate that the national executives of ASUP will only meet on Thursday to review the strike and negotiations between the union and the Federal Government.

It could be recalled that polytechnic lecturers in Nigeria have been on strike since October 4, 2013.
Among the reasons ASUP gave for  embarking on strike include the need for the constitution of the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics, the migration of the lower cadres on the CONTISS 15 salary scale, the release of the White Paper on the Visitations to Federal Polytechnics, and the need for the commencement of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Polytechnics.

 Minister for Education, Nyesom Wike
Premium Times reports that recent negotiations between the leadership of ASUP and the federal government have been positive, and Thursday’s meeting is to enable the union’s negotiating team to brief its executives.
It was gathered from a source among the leadership of ASUP, who is not permitted to speak on the matter, that the meeting, which will hold in Abuja, will not call off the strike, but would review the negotiations.

 Polytechnic students demonstrating over strike action
However, the source informed that the strike would be called off very soon, claiming negotiations have been progressive lately.
ASUP National Publicity secretary, Clement Chirman, confirmed the meeting when contacted on phone.
“We are meeting to appraise the level of negotiation and to also decide on the next line of action,” he said.
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