CurrentReport Blog The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has suspended its two-week warning strike, instructing members nationwide to resume work on Monday, December 16, 2024.
The strike, which began on December 2, 2024, was a response to the alleged neglect of Nigeria’s polytechnics by the federal government.
Key Developments
ASUP’s National President, Shammah Kpanja, announced the suspension after a meeting with officials from the Ministry of Labour and Employment. During the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed, with both parties agreeing to reconvene on January 23, 2025, to evaluate progress and address outstanding issues.
Statement from ASUP
In a statement released on Friday, Kpanja emphasized that the strike served as a warning, intended to draw attention to unresolved issues affecting the polytechnic sector.
“Our union declared a two-week definite strike effective 2nd December 2024 over the inability of the government through its agencies to execute nine items in the work plan jointly developed with our Union to resolve some pending issues of trade dispute,” Kpanja stated.
He further disclosed that the MoU includes a review meeting in January to assess compliance and prevent a potential indefinite strike.
Resumption of Duties
In light of the agreement, ASUP directed all members to resume duties on Monday, December 16, 2024, while the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) plans to evaluate the situation ahead of the January meeting.
Background of the Strike
The two-week strike highlighted the challenges facing polytechnic education in Nigeria, including:
- Underfunding of polytechnics.
- Delays in the execution of previously agreed work plans.
- Failure to address critical welfare and operational issues affecting polytechnic staff.
The government and ASUP are expected to engage further during the January meeting to ensure compliance with the MoU and resolve lingering issues. ASUP has hinted at an indefinite strike if progress is not made.
