ASUP vows to continue strike despite negotiation

National President of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Anderson Ezeibe has reaffirmed the union’s resolve to continue its indefinite strike until the Federal Government meets their demands.

Ezeibe, who stated this yesterday during an emergency congress meeting held at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, as part of his visit to polytechnics in the country, commended members of the union for complying with the directive to embark on nationwide strike, adding that until the Federal Government meets all their demands, the strike would continue. He said the strike was receiving some positive responses, following the reconstitution of the Governing Councils and setting up of Visitation Panel by the government and offer to pay the N15billion infrastructure revitalisation funds.

He, however, expressed concern over the appointment of “unqualified rectors” for polytechnics, against the Polytechnic Act, adding that to qualify for the position of rector, a person must be a chief lecturer with at least minimum of five years in any of the polytechnics.

Earlier, Chairman of the polytechnic’s chapter of ASUP, Lawani Jimoh, commended Ezeibe for visiting the polytechnic to inform members on the level of progress regarding the strike.