ASUP wants govt to revisit 2010 renegotiation agreement

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has renewed call for conclusion of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement renegotiation to usher in an improved and acceptable wage review that reflects current economic realities.

The union, in a statement yesterday, by its president, Anderson Ezeibe, said it had undertaken a review of the recent approval and release of a new wage structure for polytechnics, as communicated through the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC).

He said following the review process by his team, ASUP is calling on the Federal Government to revise the new salary structure, which reflects an increase of 35 per cent for chief lecturers, and 25 per cent for other layers of staff in the CONPCASS salary structure.

Ezeibe noted that the increase is a slight adjustment to the offer of 35 per cent and 23.5 per cent made by the government during renegotiation of the ASUP/FGN 2010 agreement in July 2022, adding that the decision fell short of demand.

He said while the union was considering the offer last year, the renegotiation process thereafter went into hiatus, as the government team failed to resume the process.

The ASUP boss said: “While it is instructive to underline our acknowledgement of the approved adjustment in our salaries as positive, we call on the government to ensure immediate implementation and release of the arrears.

“It is equally important to note that the offer was made by the government before the latest and current economic downturn, occasioned by the removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit in May, 2023.

“It, therefore, goes without saying that the positives expected from this move by the government have already been severely undermined by the current marketplace realities, and we expect the government to note this.”

The union assured the government of its readiness to engage in any sincere and productive collective bargaining process, which would improve the technical and vocational education landscape in the country.