The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), on Sunday
announced the commencement of a nationwide strike, effective Monday
morning.
The Union attributed its decision to what it described as
government’s nonchalant attitude towards technical and technological
education, as well as under-funding of the institutions.
ASUP Zonal Coordinator, South-West zone, Mr. Dosunmu Babatunde, told
newsmen in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, that the technological and
overall development of the country is only achievable through functional
polytechnic education.
He lamented the wrong body language of federal and state governments
towards polytechnic education, warning that the action may drag for a
long time, if the Union’s demands were not meet.
Speaking further, the coordinator expressed ASUP’s concern at the slow rate of development in some institutions.
“We are worried by the state of polytechnic education in the country,
especially those owned by the states,” he said, listing out states such
as Kwara, Ondo and Ogun.
Other grievances, according to him, are “refusal of most state
governments to implement the approved new salary scale for polytechnic
teachers and the 65 years retirement age.”
“Imposition of professors from outside the polytechnic sector as
rectors and the need for the commencement of the Needs Assessment of
Nigerian Polytechnics so as not to allow the sector to collapse
totally.”
The ASUP strike has come at a time the ongoing sit-at-home protest by
their colleagues in government-owned universities is about 100 days
old.
No comments:
Post a Comment