The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter, Comrade Abubakar J. Abdullah, announced that the union will initiate a nationwide strike on December 2 due to the Federal Government’s failure to meet its demands.
Abdullah explained that the union issued a 15-day ultimatum to the government on October 6, 2024, highlighting urgent issues that hinder polytechnic progress. However, the government did not address these concerns.
At a news briefing in Kaduna on November 26, the chairman outlined key demands, including the immediate release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment Intervention fund, implementation of the approved 25/35% salary review for all public polytechnics, and payment of overdue arrears.
Additional demands include resolving the longstanding CONTISS-15 migration arrears for lower cadres, releasing promotion arrears, addressing insufficient funding, and settling unpaid allowances.
“Unfortunately, after the ultimatum deadline passed, we have yet to see any action from the government on these critical issues. This inaction leaves us with no choice but to proceed with a full shutdown of our institutions on December 2, 2024, if our demands remain unmet,” Abdullah said.
He emphasized that the quality and survival of the education system depend on the government’s response.
Abdullah urged the Federal Government to engage in serious dialogue with the union and take swift, decisive actions to resolve the problems.
