ASUP Rejects New Scheme of Service proposed by Fed Gov.-Issued 14 day Ultimatum for its Withdrawal or face Industrial Action

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued a fourteen-day ultimatum to the federal government to address challenges hindering the growth and progress of polytechnics across the country.

The ultimatum was delivered by the National President of ASUP, Comrade Shammah Kpanja, during a congress meeting of ASUP, Federal polytechnic, Nasarawa, Thursday.

The meeting drew members of the academic staff Union of Polytechnics from various levels, including national officers, with a focus on the recently released new scheme of service by the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE), which ASUP criticized as discriminatory.

Addressing members, the National president of the association, comrade Shammah Kpanja, emphasized the vital role of polytechnic education in uplifting Nigeria from its current economic challenges, highlighting the practical and technical skills acquired through polytechnic courses.

According to Kpanja, ASUP has rejected the new scheme of service proposed by the government and instead called for the development of an education roadmap my thefor 2024 to 2027, while also making a case for the establishment of a Polytechnic Commission to address their sector-specific challenges directly.

The ASUP president underscored the importance of polytechnics as problem-solving institutions and expressed disappointment in the discriminatory treatment towards them compared to other educational institutions, Maintaining that if the government fails to meet their demands within the fourteen-day ultimatum, ASUP members will proceed to shut down polytechnics nationwide until their grievances are addressed.

Speaking on behalf of the ASUP chapter at the Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa, the chairman, Comrade Momoh Ismaila raised concerns about the inequality between the HND and BSc qualifications reflected in the new scheme of service and called on members to uphold their integrity during the impending actions.

In her submission, the acting rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Hauwa Tanko Mohammed, a member of ASUP, pledged to implement policies and programs aimed at advancing the development of the institution.