NASU decries alleged removal of poly teachers’ migration salary from budget

The Polytechnics and Other Allied Institutions Trade Group Council of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has decried the alleged removal of CONTISS 15 migration and some allowances from the 2016 budget estimates.

The union stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of its two days meeting held in Kaduna.

The communiqué which was signed by the Chairman of the Polytechnic Council and Deputy President of NASU, Simon Go’ar and Deputy General Secretary II of Polytechnics and Other Trade Group Council, Augustine Ageva, said the Council-in-Session frowned at the alleged removal of the CONTISS 15 Migration and some allowances for the Non-Academic Staff in the Federal Polytechnics from the 2016 Budget estimates.

NASU consequently called on the Federal Government to restore the terms in the interest of industrial peace and harmony in the system.

The Council warned that the union should not be held responsible for whatever legitimate action that would be taken by the members to pursue the matter, should government fail to do the needful. However, the Council-in-Session commended managements of the polytechnics that have sustained the payment of CONTISS 15 to their staff.

The Council however called on managements of the Polytechnics that are contemplating to suspend same to jettison the idea to avoid throwing their institutions into avoidable industrial crisis.

The Council-in-Session expressed serious concern over the untold hardships being experienced by workers across the country following the inability of about 27 States to pay workers salaries running to several months.

The Council expressed shock that, barely few months after most states were granted financial bailout to the tune of N713.7 Billion by the Federal Government to pay their workers’ salaries, the situation has not changed for the better.

The Council-in-Session called on both the Federal and State Governments to take a critical look into the matter and find a permanent solution to it to alleviate the continued sufferings of the workers. The Council further advised all tiers of Government to cut down on luxury items in order to save costs, as well as look inwards to diversify the economy instead of depending entirely on oil revenues, as has been the case over the years.

The Council-in-Session also flayed government over the delay to reconstitute the Governing Councils for the Federal Polytechnics that were dissolved last year.

The Council reiterated the importance of the Governing Councils to the smooth running of the Polytechnics and called on the Federal Government to reconstitute them without further delay to enable them perform their constitutional roles in the development of these institutions.