Shekarau - Era of Strike in Nigeria Education Sector is Coming to an End

The Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau has announced that the issues of Strike affecting the Nigerian Education would soon be at an end. He made this announcement in Lagos during the the impact assessment tour of Federal Government-owned institutions in Nigeria.
 
According to the minister, the tour became necessary as part of efforts to gain first hand information on the challenges facing individual campuses and the progress made by them, because pictures and documents forwarded to his office could be deceptive.

The minister however stressed that his mandate upon his appointment as the ministry’s substantive minister in July was to ensure the stability of the sector, and that the resolution of the then prolonged ASUP COEASU strike less than 24 hours after he resumed office was a clear pointer to his commitment to fulfil that mandate.
He further added that part of the measures to nip strikes in the bud was his commitment to ensure the dignity of teaching service in Nigeria through adequate welfare packages, training and retraining of teachers at all levels, provision of conducive teaching and learning environment, amongst others.

He said these are targeted towards achieving the two fundamental objectives of the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan in the education sector, which he listed as increasing access and improving qualities.

The Minister later made visit calls to the University of Lagos where he inspected the different series of projects going on there. Before he visited the Federal College of Education (Technical) where he commisioned two major projects and the Yaba College of Technology.

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ASUP UPDATE: Strike Looms as FGN fails to meet ASUP, COEASU Demands

There is the fear of another long strike returning to the nation’s polytechnics and colleges of education, our correspondent learnt on Monday.

 

The anxiety is coming as the Federal Government has yet to meet the demands of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, more than three months after it promised to resolve all outstanding issues concerning the industrial actions.

It was learnt that ASUP had scheduled Wednesday, November 12, for its Council of National Officers’ meeting to reappraise the “compassionate treaty” it reached with the Federal Government in July.

The ASUP President, Mr. Chibuzor Asomugha, in an interview with our correspondent on Monday, said both the teachers and their students were not happy with the “delay in resolving all the outstanding issues.”

Asomugha, who did not make any categorical statement on whether members of the union would embark on another full-scale industrial action, noted that anything was possible, considering the worry and restiveness on campuses arising from the government’s inability to address the workers’ concern.

He, nonetheless, noted that it was for the elected national officers of ASUP to decide the next step to take.

He said, “We are meeting next Wednesday in Abuja to decide on what next to do. More than three months after we suspended our strike to enable the authorities to address the issues fully, nothing concrete has so far come out of it.

“The leadership of the union was to meet with the authorities on October 20 to discuss the grey areas, but that meeting did not hold because the technical committee set up by the government had not filed its report.

“As I speak with you, no new date has been fixed for the meeting, but I tell you, anything is possible among our members, especially as the government has not addressed our issues.”

The ASUP chief, however, lauded the minister, saying he at least inaugurated the technical committee that was harmonising all the outstanding issues.

COEASU also described the Federal Government’s intervention so far, especially its October 28 letter to the union over the suspended strike, as belated.

The union, in a communiqué obtained on Monday after its three-day meeting in Abuja, said the letter coming after the “expiration of the three-month moratorium was quite belated and unsubstantial in its terse content.”

The union’s president and secretary, Messrs Emmanuel Asagha and Nuhu Ogirima, respectively, signed the statement.

The union argued that the continued delay in the implementation of the “migration concept” in the colleges of education was just unacceptable, even as it was an act of injustice.

It added, “The Council, therefore, implores the Federal Government to commence the full implementation of migration by paying the arrears accruing therefrom as a matter of urgent national interest, so as to stem the imminent resumption of the national strike suspended three months ago.

Meanwhile, the Education Rights Campaign has condemned the inability of the government to meet the unions’ demands.

The action of the government, ERC in a statement by its Coordinator, Hassan Taiwo, said, was “contemptuous” of public education in the country.

The group, therefore, called on the Federal Government to immediately meet and begin the implementation of all outstanding demands of ASUP and COEASU in order to avert resumption of industrial action.

But the the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, Mr. Nnamdi Olebara, who spoke on behalf of his principal, urged the unions not to engage in any action that would further disrupt academic activities in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

According to him, the minister is sincere in the treaty he reached with the unions and very soon, all the issues would be resolved amicably.

He said, “The minister is sincere. The promise is a sincere one and everything is on to fulfil the promise. It may not have been so smooth as to click with the end of three months, but we are not far from fulfilling that promise.

“In fact, we want to leave here much better than we met it and the minister’s assurance should be taken in good faith and with all seriousness.”

The leadership of ASUP and COEASU, last July 12, suspended their strike to enable the Education Minister, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, to look into their requests.

Before the suspension, ASUP strike, which started October 4, 2013, lasted for 10 months, while that of COEASU, which commenced December 18, dragged on for seven months.

The action not only disrupted the students’ academic calendar, it also frustrated many of the students, especially the Higher National Diploma candidates, from participating in this year’s compulsory National Youth Service Corps scheme.

ASUP is demanding, among others, the removal of what they regard as discrimination against polytechnic graduates, review of the Polytechnics Act, the establishment of a National Polytechnics Commission and the release of the White Paper of the visitation to federal polytechnics.

They are also kicking against the poor funding of polytechnics, deplorable condition of state polytechnics, appointment of unqualified persons as rectors of polytechnics and the review of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System and the funding of the CONTISS 15 Migration.

Colleges of education teachers, whose agitation started last December 18, are demanding, among others, the release of the 2012 Visitation White Paper, implementation of the NEEDS Assessment Report, harmonisation of conditions of service and the granting of autonomy to the colleges to award degrees.

The Federal Government did not meet many of these requirements while the then Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, superintended the activities of the ministry.

This resulted in the protracted industrial actions, which lasted till July 12 when a compassionate treaty was reached between Shekarau and the striking lecturers, leading to the suspension of the strikes.

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ASUP May Go Back on Strike Soon

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics is said to be to re-considering the position of its industrial action, seeking way forward over its suspended 10-month old strike as students are becoming restive.
 
This news came on the back of the expiry of the Three months ultimatum the body issued to the Federal Government.

The President of the Union Dr Chibuzor Asomugha stated this in Abuja while speaking with journalists on the expiration of the 3month relieve period earlier requested by the Federal Government to sort-out key demands of the Union.

Dr Asomugha who said the 3month expired on 15th of October stressed that the Strike option is the most glaring alternative, adding that the National Executive Council of the Union would meet more on further deliberation.

The ASUP President added that the Union earlier met with the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics and Non Academic Staff Union on the way forward.
“Recently ASUP met with Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics and Non Academic Staff Union and we are beginning to strategise”

“Our understanding is that the Minister has been meeting with stakeholders who are directly involved in different area of our demands” he said

He said that the Union had made attempt to meet with the Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau on 13th of October and they were made to understand that he was building basis for the next meeting .
“In the interim of it we were to meet him on 13th of October but it did not hold we are hoping that by the time he invites us for another meeting we will discuss meaningfully”

“I would not be in a hurry to say there would be another strike neither is in a hurry to say there would not be”.

“Students are becoming restive and Members of the Union are equally becoming restive and it is on this basis our union would not be in hurry to make a stand and while the Union is considering the fact that an almost one year old strike was just concluded ,the effect is still there and we are still battling to ameliorate the effect and the way it is we may have to meet some more among ourselves so as to determine which way to go”
“The only body of our union that can determine if there will be a strike is NEC its decision can only be made after we met with the Minister” he re-stated.

Source – 247ureports

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ASUP STRIKE UPDATES: 3 Months Ultimatum Elapsed, FGN Still Silent over ASUP Demands

Following the suspension of the over 10 months strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the union gave the Federal Government a three-month ultimatum which has elapsed to meet with its demands, yet nothing has been done.
 
Engineer Musa Ibrahim, the Kaduna Polytechnic chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) Chairman said this at an interactive forum between the new leadership of ASUP and newsmen in Kaduna, during the weekend. Engineer Musa Ibrahim said: “The thinking at that time by the union, though our demands were not met, was that since it’s a new Minister, let’s give him the opportunity to critically look at our problems with the aim of solving them.

Rather than giving him two weeks to do that, the union with magnanimity decided to give government three months and unfortunately the three months elapsed some days ago. As usual, with the behaviour of our government, none of the demands has been met, though there was recently a formal meeting between the minister and the union where he promised that the demands would be met soon. One of the main issues is the problem of implementation of CONTISS 15 new salary structure that we went into agreement with government since 2009 and up till date, the implementation is just half way.

“We gave government 13 demands, out of the 13, we asked government to select any four. After three months, government only met two half-way, we went on strike again and spent 10 months. We had three months again which just elapsed while the issues are still lingering.”

It would be re-called that the Academic Staff Union Of Polytechnics (ASUP) suspended their over 10 months old strike on July 16, 2014.

Source – Nigerian Bulletin

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ASUP Strike Updates: ASUP May Start Another Strike As 3 Month Ultimatum Given Get Closer

The Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has reassured the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) of his commitment to resolving issues raised in its demands from the Federal Government.

He said that the Chairman of the Council, Mr Ebenezer Babatope, had felicitated with the minister on his appointment and commended him for resolving the strike shortly after assumption of office.

The Special Adviser (Media) to the minister, Dr Nnamdi Olebara, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja. "The minister described the demands of ASUP and other unions as germane and appropriate but paucity of fund in the face of competing demands was responsible for the delay.’’

``The White Paper on the Needs Assessment Report was already before the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for onward presentation to the President for his consideration and approval as working a document,’’ Olebara quoted the minister telling the delegation.

``He also reminded the minister that the three
months ultimatum given by ASUP was fast running to an end; hence the need to assess the level of
preparedness on the part of the government in order to avert another strike,’’ he said.

ASUP had on July 12, called off its 11-month strike which started in October 2013 after an appeal from the minister.

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Updates: Abia ASUP to Start Another Strike

Abia State Polytechnic Academic Staff Union of
Polytechnics (ASUP) on Thursday said it would resume its suspended strike without notice if its Governing Council did not meet its demands.

This is contained in a letter jointly signed by Mr Precious Nwakodo, and Mr Kalu Uma, the chapter Chairman and Secretary, respectively.

The letter, dated July 21, 2014 and addressed to the Chairman, Governing Council of the Polytechnic, was made available to newsmen in Aba.

“The union at its emergency congress held on Thursday, July 17, resolved to suspend its strike for three weeks from July 22.

“This decision was largely informed by the confidence members have in the leadership of the governing council that it will fulfill its promise to pay additional two months salaries on or before Aug. 11 and also address the issue of irregular payment of staff salaries.

“It is also the expectation of the union that within this period, council and management will start meeting the demands of the union.”

According to the letter, the union also demanded for visible mechanisms to improved management of the polytechnic’s resources. It called for the provision of a concrete ceiling for expenditure approved for both management and council.

ASUP further seek a return to due process and extant rules in the general administration of the polytechnic.

The union also demanded the implementation of the report on Abia State Polytechnic Staff Certificate Verification as well as the release of its 2014 staff promotions list.

The union expressed the hope that the council’s strong desire and commitment to return the polytechnic to the paths of progress would be realised. It, however, urged the council to do the needful to forestall a possible break of activities.

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Fed Poly Oko Rector Urges ASUP to End Strike

The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Professor Godwin Onu, has called on the Academic staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) to call off the protracted strike action in the interest of the students.

According to him the strike action has made students who ought to have graduated to remain at home while those who have been admitted are yet to resume lectures.

It is expected that the meeting involving ASUP executives, joint committee of the National Assembly representing the Federal Government, Ministries of education, finance and labour today will bring an end to the strike.

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ASUP NEC Meeting Uodates: Strike Continues as NEC Awaits Senate Meeting

According to report reaching us, the outcome of the ASUP NEC Meeting in Yabatech, Lagos is not favorable, we are informed that the strike continues as ASUP await Senate meeting.

The Main reason for publishing this post is to inform Polytechnic Students that ASUP will be holding another NEC meeting on the 1st of July, 2014 (And we hope it is not going to be the same story)

If you recalled, the Union started their NEC meeting in Lagos State after Government representatives refused to show up for the meeting they were scheduled to have together. (Seriously, the F.G have no business with ASUP again?)



Read the official report below.
The National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) at the end of its 77th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos has announced that the nine months old strike continues.

The NEC said status quo remains pending the outcome of its meeting with the Senate Committee on Education on Tuesday July 1st, 2014.

ASUP President, Chibuzor Asomugha, disclosed at the end of the meeting that the stakeholders meeting scheduled for June 24 got stalled due to the absence of representatives of the government.

“That meeting was supposed to be held, resolution reached and an agreement was also signed. It was against this backdrop that we fixed the NEC meeting so that, if we have the resolutions, we will come here and suspend the strike.

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ASUP Strike Updates: ASUP and FG Meeting Postponed To 1st July AS FG Officials Not Turn Up

The 24th of June was a day all polytechnics students were waiting and anticipating for to come, because the students, Parents and Guardian hopes that the striking Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, would go back to classrooms after yesterday’s scheduled meeting, which the striking lecturers, the Senate Committee of Education and other stakeholders agreed to meet, but once again, the hope of all Nigerians affected in one way or the way by the strike was again been dashed.

Faith, the Dailyschoolnews Nigeria correspondent, was able to gather that the proposed meeting between members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP and the Government Officials, which was scheduled for Tuesday 24 June has been postponed officially by the board.

The Meeting which was called by the Senate committee of Education did not hold.
The senate committee called off the meeting and adjourn it to the 1st of July 2014, which is Tuesday next week, following the failure of the Education minister and other relevant agencies of the government failure to end the industrial crisis in the polytechnics.

The Nigeria polytechnics strike, which in October, will be celebrating one year of existence, is still not seeing any light of been called off, as none of the key issues has been significantly resolved by the federal government.

The Academic staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) executive members said that the meetings with the Ministry of Education and its leadership have yielded no fruitful results. The Senate intervention is seen as the next big hope for resolution to enable the students to resume their education.
This information was sent to our correspondent, from the desk of the National President of the striking lecturers’ union, Chibuzo Asomugha, who stated that the absence of key stakeholders stalled the meeting, and no progress was made.

Dailychoolnews correspondent was able to gathered that the following ministers,
* Ministers of Labour,
* Minister of Education,
* Secretary to the Federal Government
had been invited to the meeting alongside the Secretary to the Federal Government, Anyim Pius Anyim but none of the duo was present at the venue of the meeting in Abuja FCT.

Asomugha, who was angry at the snubbing, told our correspondent this, which we would love to quote:
“There was no meeting because of the absence of several key members whom the committee expected to meet with.

It’s a shame that we could not have them present here but there is little we can do about it.
This particular meeting has been rescheduled for next week Tuesday, 1st July and hopefully, other stakeholders earlier invited would be present then for the deliberations”.

However, when we contacted the supervising Minister for Education, Nyesom Wike, blatantly refused to speak with our correspondent on the issue as he claimed to be in a meeting, which he never came out from (lol) because his assistant told us since 11 hours ago that he’s in a meeting.

“You can call me back, I am in a meeting presently,” his correspondent disclosed.

The striking lecturers’ attention will now be shifted to their National Executive Council, NEC meeting, which has been scheduled for the 25th and 26th of June, 2014 at the Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH, Akoka, Lagos.

Here’s Asomugha exact words which is quoted below.

“Our NEC meeting holds irrespective of whether there was a strike action or not. So we shall meet at YABATECH tomorrow, which is Thursday to deliberate on pressing issues,”.

One notable notion which the union is demanding and is been supported by millions of Nigerians, is an “end to the HND/B.Sc dichotomy”.

It’s important that you are aware, that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has been on strike since the 4th of October, 2013.

Source: dailyschoolnews

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ASUP Strike Updates: Federal Polytechnic Bida Pulls Out

The strike action embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP as a way of protesting unmet demands by the Federal government seems to be growing weaker by the day as many of the polytechnics keep pulling out of the strike.

The Federal Polytechnic Bida as we learnt has also pulled out of the ASUP strike.

According to a statement by the Registrar of the institution, this notice on resumption is for the good of the students.

The statement reads thus;

The Academic Board at its statutory meeting held today June 23, 2014 considered the Report from the Joint Committee of Deans/Directors and Central Examination Committee on the above-cited subject matter decided as follows:

1. The Polytechnic to reopen for the 2012/2013 Second Semester on WEDNESDAY June 25, 2014 to enable the students come to the Halls of Residence.

2. Academic activities to commence on Monday, June 30, 2014 for all students (including all DCE students).

3. Both the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 Academic Sessions are now collapsed into a new “2014/2015 SESSION” and all candidates admitted are to start their Registration on-line, after payment of all Relevant fees into “Federal Polytechnic, Bida Account Number 100 114 7129 in all branches of First Bank PLC from July 14, 2014.

The commencement of the 2014/2015 Academic Session shall be announced shortly but tentatively fixed for the first week of October 2014.

The Rector hereby appreciates the cooperation and understanding of all staff, students and other stakeholders in the progress of this Great institution.
Thanks!

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ASUP STRIKE UPDATES: ASUP/COEASU Strike Continues as Ministers Shun Meeting with National Assembly

Due to the absence of the supervising minister of education Mr Nyesom Wike and minister of trade Emeka Wogu and other key officials to the scheduled meeting of the striking Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, and the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU,with the Joint Committee of the National Assembly yesterday, hopes that the striking lectures will go back to the class room was dashed.

The meeting was postponed to the end of the month due to the absence of the minister and other officials.

ASUP has now been on strike for 337 days, while students of colleges of education have remained at home since last December.

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ASUP STRIKE UPDATE: Kwara State Colleges of Education Pulls out of ASUP Strike

The Chairman of the Union of the College of Education in Ilorin, Sanni Ahmed while speaking with newsmen said they suspended the strike based on the promise of the federal government to meet their demands, but threatened that the strike would resume if their demands were not met soon.
 
Although the strike was called off, but the Unionist locked the school gate and prevent staffs and students to gain access to the premises, but after staying off duties for weeks and with the intervention of stakeholders in kwara state, the Union has again suspended its strike with the hope that the government will meet its demands, having given the government three weeks grace from the date of this publication.

The state owned polytechnic, (Kwara State Polytechnic) on its part, has not joined any national or internal strike in the past six years and this could be attributed to non-existence of a union or body to advocate their causes.

The last ASUP union leaders of the school were reportedly sacked or maltreat out of their jobs while fighting for the cause of members and this was said to be responsible for staff’s fear of unionising.
The Nigerian Polytechnics and colleges of education have been on strike for 11 and six months respectively.

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FG have agreed to sign MOU with ASUP – ASUP Strike to be called off Next Week Tuesday

We have just been reliably informed that the strike embarked by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, ASUP might be called off next week tuesday, 24th June, 2014.

Once the MOU is signed hopefully on Tuesday, the ASUP President is expected to suspend the strike unconditionally as promised.

This is what The Federal Polytechnic, Bida (ASUP-BD) is banking on.

That’s all we know for now.

Special thanks to Pamela Ibrahim for the news update above.

Alright, if you are a reader of Naijainfos, you will notice we don’t care much about ASUP vs FG Super stories.

And hopefully, this will not be another super story. The Nigerian Polytechnic Students have been at home long enough.

We need this strike to be called off before election madness begins, if not, no hope for Polytechnic Students!
If you heard the rumour that ASUP Strike will be called off 24th June, 2014. Then know it is no rumour because it was aired on NTA News yesterday.

However, it will become one when no concrete evidence is given that the strike will end next week.
For now, that is all we know.


Source: Nigeriaschool

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ASUP STRIKE UPDATES: Polytecnic Students Gives FG 2 Weeks To Resolve Strike

The Polytechnic Students under the umbrella of the National Association of Polytechnic Students has given the federal government two weeks to sort out issues with the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics and ensure that the strike is called off or face the wrath of Nigerian Students.

This was made known on Tuesday in Abuja by the President of NAPS, Mr. Sunday Ogbonnaya during an interview.

According to him it is the students that are bearing the brunt of the strike.

In his words, “We are giving the Federal Government and NAPS two weeks to resolve their differences; otherwise we will shut down the entire system.”

He called on the ministry of education to forward a memo to the National Assembly to request for a supplementary budget that would meet the demand of ASUP and COEASU.

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ASUP STRIKE UPDATES: Strike Continues After NEC Meeting

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, concluded its National Executive Council meeting on Thursday morning and resolved to continue with its strike.

The union’s National Publicity Secretary, Clement Chirman, told PREMIUM TIMES that the Federal Government was frustrating the union and prolonging the strike.

He said government was yet to say move forward with a committee that it had promised to setup to resolve the issue of wages and salary arrears.

“Our strike cannot be suspended just like that. The last time we met the (Education) Minster said the government would set up a committee based on the observation of Salaries and Wages commission on payment of CONTISS 15 migration. The minister said before the House of Representatives that both ASUP and COEASU should join the meeting; which we agreed to do.

“Then he gave one week from the date of our last meeting for the setup of the committee,” Mr. Chirman said.
“But since that day, no committee has been set up and there has been nothing from the government concerning the committee. So our position is that government is frustrating and prolonging the strike. After our NEC meeting we agreed that there was no basis upon which the strike would be suspended.”
Mr. Chirman said the union would not call off the strike based on “nothing.”

“We understand the fact that people have suffered and we have also suffered too. For now there is no other decision made than to continue with the strike,” he said.

A meeting was held at the National Assembly on May 27 between lecturers and the government delegation led by the Education Minister, Nyesom Wike. The meeting was facilitated by the House of Representatives Committee on Education.

Mr. Wike told attendees that the major remaining contention of the workers – their salary arrears – was not being addressed because a government agency had raised concerns. He said the Salaries, Wages and Income Commission was opposed to the payment of arrears owed the lecturers, saying it was not consulted before the 2009 CONTISS 15 agreement between the lecturers and the federal government was reached.
The minister told the meeting that a technical committee had been set up by the Secretary to
the Government of the Federation, SGF, Pius Anyim, to review crisis.

The lawmakers then asked the committee to conclude its task in one week and to consult the lecturers in its deliberation.

In his reaction to the lecturers’ claim, the Special Assistant (Media), Simon Nwakadu, to Mr. Wike, told PREMIUM TIMES that the committee has been meeting.

“The committee is on and they are meeting at the SGF level and both ASUP and COASEU are involved directly but they have not concluded their work.

“We are hoping by next week Tuesday they should conclude their work but they are on it. The committee was an existing committee even before they met that day. But that day the minster suggested that since the committee was dealing with issues concerning wages and salary, ASUP and COEASU should join them,” Mr. Nwakadu explained.

ASUP has been on strike since October 4, 2013. The union’s demands include the need for the constitution of the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics, the migration of the lower cadres on the CONTISS 15 salary scale, the release of the White Paper on the Visitations to Federal Polytechnics, and the need for the commencement of the Need Assessment of Nigerian Polytechnics.

The government said it has met the other demands of the lecturers.

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ASUP STRIKE UPDATES: Good News: Adamawa State Polytechnic Pulls Out Of ASUP Strike To Resumes On Monday, 16 June, 2014

The latest report reaching us reviews that the Management of Adamawa State Polytechnic, Yola has opted of the strike embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and directed all lecturers and students of the College to return to classroom.

The Adamawa State Polytechnic will resume on Monday, 16th June, 2014. But how true is this information? Well, it looks like the Adamawa State Poly. ASUP Chapter is against it.

Comrade Coleman Goji, the ASUP chairman of the polytechnic, called on the lecturers and students to disregard the directive, saying the strike will not be called off until their demands were met.

While chatting with newsmen at a press conference in Yola State, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Umar Bobboi, said the striking lecturers would not be allowed to hold the institution to ransom.

Professor Umar Bobboi described the ASUP demands as ill-motivated and contrary to labour laws, saying “the demand for payment of 15% SIWES allowance arrears for the period between August 2011 and December 2013, amounting to N160 million is outrageous.”

He added that the state government has directed the institution to pay SIWES allowance arrears to academic staff effective from August 2011 to July 2012 using internally generated revenue and the payment has already commenced.

Important Notice: All the students are advice to called their class/course-mates before traveling to the Institution.

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Asup Strike Updates: We Will Soon Call Off ASUP, COEASU Strike

THE Federal Government has assured that concerted efforts are being made to break the logjam between members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) and the government.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Dr Macjohn Nwaobiala, who spoke in Abuja on Wednesday, said the government had adopted different approaches to end the protracted strikes.
He disclosed that the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives had also intervened at various levels.

Nwaobiala expressed optimism that going by what was on ground, the strike would be called off as soon as possible.

The Permanent Secretary revealed that the government has gone far in the bid to resolve the issue of dichotomy between the Higher National Diploma (HND) holders and first degree holders.
He disclosed that the committee set up by the Federal Government to look into the issue had submitted its report to the government.

He said: “Different approaches have been adopted to end the strike.

The Senate and the House of Representatives are inter-facing with the Ministry of Education and the labour, and I hope the strike will be called off as soon as possible.

“On the issue of dichotomy, we have gone far with the work and hopeful that it will be positive. We have submitted the report to the government and we hope it will go a long way to assuage the unions.”

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Asup Strike Updates: The Federal Polytechnic Bida is still on Strike

The federal polytechnic bida is still on strike, we just heard they have called off but no resumption date till now, we are still at home waiting. our future in jeopardy how long are we going to say at home? This strike is gradually turning us into street boys.

An idle mind is the devil work shop. The FG should be aware of the monster they are creating in us, boko haram know na play they don’t know the extent of damage we can do FG take us off the street before is too late.. Oh my fatherland God give us the strength to hold on.

Aluta Continue, Victorial Asata.

We also heard that Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri is still on strike.

The good news is that the strike might be called off tomorrow

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Asup Strike Updates: President Goodluck Meets With ASUP Today, 9th June, 2014 To End Strike

This is another news on ASUP, but we are sure the ASUP & COEASU Strike is coming to an end soon.
The latest news reaching us reveals that the Academic Staff Union Of Polytechnics, (ASUP) and College of Education Academic Staff Union, (COEASU) will be holding a crucial meeting today, 9th June, 2014 With President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in a bid to find a lasting solution to the current impasse.

From a reliably source, the ASUP and COEASU will be meeting with President Jonathan for the first time since the strike commenced to suspend the lingering Strike.
We are also informed that ASUP will be Holding a NEC Meeting on Thursday 12th June, 2014 which will bring about the end of the strike.

The 11 months ASUP strike is expected to end on Tuesday, 12th June with official Announcement on Thursday after the NEC meeting of ASUP.

We are hoping that all the demands of both lecturers and that of students. Shall be resolve today. (Salary Arrears and HND Dichotomy)

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, and Colleges of Education and Academic Staff Union, COEASU, have been on nine-month and six-month strike respectively.

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Asup Strike Updates: Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa Pulls out

The Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa has also joined the list of the polytechnics that pulled out of the ASUP strike.

The school consequently will resume academic activities on June 9th 2014.

Below is the list of some of the polytechnics that has pulled out of the ASUP strike so far:
* The Federal Polytechnic, Bida
* Akanu Ibiam, Federal Polytechnic Uwana
* Federal Polytechnic, Kebbi
* Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure in Jigawa State.
* Federal Polytechnic, Nekede

Just like the comment of a polytechnic student reads,
"what then is ASUP striking for when all the polytechnics are opting out one by one? I seriously believe that even Dr Chibuzo is tired of this ASUP strike but he is wondering how to just end the fruitless strike with shame."

"Please end this nonsense. They don’t even know what they wanted. student were fooled that ASUP was fighting for them. what a waste of time! God please help Nigeria."

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