The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has reversed its decision to commence a strike action on Wednesday following what it called “fruitful” discussions with the Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau and the House of Representatives Committee on Education, VON reports.
The union on Tuesday morning had a two-hour meeting with Education Minister, Ibrahim Shekarau and another meeting with the Education Committee of the House of Representatives in the evening.
The Public Relations Officer of ASUP,Comrade Clement Chirman, in a telephone interview after the meeting at the National Assembly, said the negotiation team of the union will relay the outcome of the meetings to ASUP’s National Executive Council.
While calling on union members to continue to perform their lawful duties, he said “the union and government will continue to dialogue in resolving all outstanding issues.”
ASUP was protesting a circular issued by the Ministry of Education, suspending the implementation of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure CONTISS 15 in polytechnics, the decisions by the governing councils of Federal polytechnics Oko in Anambra State and Ado, in Ado- Ekiti to suspend all union activities in the institutions and the sack of union leaders.
Chirman said the Minister of Education has ordered the immediate withdrawal of the circular suspending CONTISS 15 and has ordered the restoration of union activities in the affected institutions.
According to him, “the Minister also assured the union that the Ministry will look into all other demands, which border on increased funding for polytechnics and improved staff welfare”.
He added that the lawmakers have also agreed to expedite action on other demands of the lecturers which also include the passing into law a bill establishing a National Polytechnic Commission.
