ASUP urges passage of amendment bill on Polytechnics Act

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), has urged the Federal Ministry of Education, and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), to expedite action on the passage of corrected version of the amendment bill of the Polytechnics Act.  
 
The union stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of its 94thNational Executive Council (NEC) meeting, which was held at the Shehu Idris College of Health Sciences and Technology, Makarfi, Kaduna State.ASUP said the accent to the bill by President Muhammadu Buhari would improve productivity and best practices in the polytechnics and monotechnics.
 
The communiqué, which was signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the union, Chris Nkoro, also flayed the alleged lethargic disposition of the Federal government and its agencies towards re-negotiation of FGN/ASUP agreement. It added that government’s hesitance to renegotiate the agreement is viewed as a ploy to cripple the system and perpetuate suffering on its members.
 
ASUP said while it had agreed on the terms of enrolling the sector into Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information (IPPIS), it alleged that some rectors have continued to use backhand ploy to enrol some institutions without recourse to the union’s documented peculiar concerns.
 
The NEC-in-session urged government to promptly call the erring rectors to order.ASUP also expressed its displeasure at the shortfalls and Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Structure (CONTISS) 15 migration challenges, which have persisted, even with continued assurances by government that this situation has been dealt with.
 
The union also decried the continued deterioration conditions of some state polytechnics/monotechnics in terms of delay in payment of salaries, arrears of promotions, and other infractions. 
 
Specifically, it mentioned states such as Abia, Kogi, Imo, Osun, Oyo, Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, Ekiti, Ondo, and Zamfara, where conditions of learning as well as teaching fall below minimum standard.It added: “The NEC therefore reiterates the firm invocation of the no salary, no accreditation policy on the institutions concerned and further urges that all cases of victimisation should be adequately redressed immediately.”
 
It observed that some institutions, especially in the states were yet to key into the overall national interest on education, saying, “it was disheartening that Shehu Idris College of Health Sciences and Technology Management, (SICHTM), Makarfi, have not implemented the 65 years retirement age, migration to CONPCASS, inadequate infrastructure, non-sponsorship of staff to conferences, and non-research grants.” The meeting also frowned at the alleged shoddy process of appointing Rectors in some polytechnics without due diligence. 
 
“This has become an embarrassment to the sector and does not portend industrial harmony in the sector, particularly affected recently include Bida and Ile Ile-Oluji.The NEC therefore called on the Federal government to redress and rescind the decision, failure which the union will embark on a one – week national strike,” the union stated.