The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) is once again ready to draw a battle line with the federal government over government failure to implement the terms of agreement with the union, and continuous payment of half salaries to the Polytechnic workers.
The National President of the union, Comrade Usman Dutse told newsmen in Abuja at the weekend that the union can no longer guarantee industrial peace in the nation’s Polytechnic sector, saying the condition of members of the union was going from bad to worse on a daily basis as a result of neglect by government.
Comrade Dutse said ASUP members can no longer bear the hardship brought to them by government as a result of receiving salaries in fraction since 2016, adding that even though government promised to address the challenges in the sector which started since January 2016 till date, the situation is getting worst with an increment in the quantum of cut.
He said the union will be holding its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting third week of March 2017 to deliberate on the way forward, stressing that “apart from the outstanding challenge we have with government, there are new development that crop up last year. This is the issue of shortfall in personnel, from January 2016 we started observing shortfall in our personnel this led to our members collecting fraction of their salaries with the promises that it would be ratified.
“They told us by January this year the matter will be resolve, but it has not changed. But in February, we were told the situation is getting worst because the quantum of the cut has increase significantly and it would create more hardship and sufferings for our members.
“So we want to use this medium to tell government that we have been patient enough as we have been suffering and smiling for too long. And we also want to warn that if these issues continue, we cannot guarantee industrial harmony in the Polytechnic sub sector of the education system.
“Government should keep to their word by fulfilling their promises. This is our right because we have worked for it. Anytime we start agitation, they will talk about no work, no pay. So we want to assure them that if they continue cutting our salaries, we too will cut our services because for every service we render, we deserve to be compensated.
“We are all aware that the economy hardship in the country is biting and so if you get less than what you use to received, the situation will be worst for you. So sincerely, we want to tell government to give us what we deserve and make sure that our members do not suffer any longer because we are not going to allow that to continue. We are going to take action that will protect and defend the interest of our members and system”.
THE NATION
