BREAKING News: ASUP Calls Off Strike: Polytechnics Resumes Next Week

The Academic Staff Union Of Polytechnic ASUP has suspended it’s one-year-old industrial action today, Saturday 12th July, 2014. According to the announcement made by the ASUP National Publicity Secretary, Clement Chirman, the decision to call off the ASUP strike was reached during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held this morning.

The ASUP leaders held a meeting with the new Education Minister, Malllam Ibrahim Shekarau last week Thursday where a breakthrough in the conflict between the Federal Government and the striking lecturers was made.

Polytechnic Lecturers are expected to resume work next week Tuesday.

(MSG)

Fed Poly Idah Pulls Out Of ASUP Strike

The information reaching our desk indicates that the Federal Polytechnic, Idah has pulled out of the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics strike and a resumption date has been announced for the students.

Here is a copy of a memo sent in from a student of Fed Poly Idah concerning the ASUP strike which was displayed at the school’s notice board;

THE FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC IDAH

To: Members of the Polytechnic Community
Ref: FPI/E R/50/V 10/197
From: Academic Affairs Division (Exams Records)
Date: 7th July, 2014

RESUMPTION OF ACADEMIC ACTIVITIES

This is to inform members of the Polytechnic Community, particularly the students of the Institution that the Academic Board has scheduled new dates for the resumption of Academic Activities as follows:

1. Sat 12/7/2014 — Arrival of all 2012/2013 ND II, HND II. 2013/2014 ND I. HND I and remedial students (Pre-ND).

2. Mon 14/7/2014 — Commencement of registration for new Students.

3. Sat 19/7/2014 — Arrival of all returning 2013/2014 ND II and HND II students i e those who have finished ND I and HNDI.

4. Mon 21/7/2014 — Project defence for 2012/2013 HND II Students.

5 Wed 23/7/2014 — Commencement of lectures for all students.

6. Fri. 29/7/2014 — End of registration for all students.

All students are to note these scheduled dates for their compliance, please.

This information shows that Idah Poly is no longer participating in the ongoing industrial action by the polytechnic lectures.

Fed Poly Oko Pulls Out Of ASUP Strike

Hurray Students Of Federal polytechnic, Oko has pulled out of the ongoing Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) strike to enable their students write the second semester examinations and cover the academic calendar of the institution.

This announcement was made yesterday evening after the emergency meeting of the Academic Board of Federal Polytechnic Oko who reiterated their support of the agitation of the union but has to put the fate of students into consideration as they have wasted a lot of time at home.

Students of Oko Poly are to note that the school management will announce the resumption date and modalities for the examination which will commence immediately.

This news is coming after the meeting between the ASUP national body and the joint national assembly committee on education ended in stalemate as the federal government’s delegation failed to attend the meeting for negotiations.

Good news for Oko Poly students. Good luck and safe journey as you go back to school to resume your academic activities.

FG's Delegation Absent From NASS Meeting Again (ASUP Strike Update)

The hopes of the polytechnic and college of education students that the ongoing industrial action by their lecturers will be called-off today has been thrown to the winds as the federal government delegation which comprises of the Minister of Education, Minister of Labour and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation were absent from the meeting called by the joint committee of the national assembly on education.

This meeting was scheduled by the NASS for negotiations between the federal government and the lecturers in order to find a lasting solution to the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) strikes.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Education, Uche Chukwumerije, expressed disappointment at the Federal Government over their response and unwillingness to negotiate with the leadership of the union while he urged the lecturers to be steadfast in their struggle to see that the education sector in the country doesn’t suffer again.

We gathered that the leadership of ASUP had narrowed down their demands from 10 to 2 and were willing to call off the strike had it been the Government representatives were at the meeting.

More details to follow later…

Fed Poly Oko Rector Wants ASUP Strike Called- Off Today

The ongoing industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has been described as damaging to the academic calendar of polytechnics by the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

The Rector, Professor Godwin Onu, said that the prolonged strike has giving rise to two sets of first year students in the institution who have gained admission and are unsure of when they will resume studies.

He urged the union to call off the strike that has lasted for 11 months in the interest of the students who ought to have graduated but still remained at home, while those who have completed all the processes for admission, were yet to begin lectures.

It will be recalled that the ASUP executives has scheduled a meeting today with the joint committee of the National Assembly as the representatives of the federal government, ministries of education, finance and labour are also expected to be present.

This meeting is expected to put an end to the protracted strike as agreements are expected to be signed.

ASUP Ends NEC Meeting Without Suspending Strike

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has concluded the 3-day National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union which was held at Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) without finding a solution to the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the polytechnic lecturers.

The ASUP president, Mr Chibuzor Asumogha, at the end of 77th national executive council (NEC) meeting said that a meeting of the committee and some education stakeholders scheduled for June 24 did not hold because no government official came so the union resolved to continue its nine months old strike pending the outcome of its meeting with the senate committee on education on Tuesday, July 1st.

“That meeting was supposed to be held, resolution reached and agreement 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.

“This is the position of the NEC; we are meeting again next Tuesday,” he said.

Asomugha however berated the federal government for frustrating all the efforts made by the union in suspending the strike by breaching all the agreements they had.

He appealed to parents and students to continue to be patient and support the union to achieve it goals.

It will be worth noting that the government has met some of the ASUP demands, including the of governing councils and setting up of the NEEDS assessment committees but the union is demanding that all their demands would be met before calling-off the strike.

We keep our fingers crossed and await the Tuesday’s meeting, hoping for a positive news for our polytechnic students who are not having it easy sitting at home for over one academic session now.

ASUP Strike Update: NEC Meeting Yet To Reach Decision

The 77th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) holding at the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech) is yet to reach a decision on the on-going industrial action by the polytechnic lecturers.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the NEC meeting, the ASUP President, Chibuzor Asumogba said that the NEC meeting was to discuss various issues affecting the union, not limited to the on-going strike.

He also added that the union would decide its next line of action concerning the strike after the meeting.

The Chairman, Governing Council of Yabatech, Ebenezer Babatope, however, appealed to ASUP to suspend its strike in the interest of the students.

Mr. Babatope who was represented by Shehu Agara, a member of the council, said, “Over the past nine months the sector has been paralysed as a result of strike by your union members; our students have been the most affected.

“The good news is that ASUP and the Federal Government have been negotiating to resolve the lingering crisis.

I am certain that the negotiation will soon reach an amicable solution. It is my hope, however, that at the end of your deliberations, you will come out with workable solutions to some of the problems and challenges facing the system”, he said.

In his submission, the Rector of Yabatech, Margaret Ladipo, urged the union to temper their decisions with considerations of the students.

“As you go into this NEC, I urge you to take decisions for our children, who, over the past nine months, have lost a useful time span in their lives that can never be regained.

I am optimistic that very soon we will all go back to our respective duties. ASUP is without doubt pivotal to the development of the polytechnic sector in Nigeria.

As a responsive and responsible union, you play vital roles in promoting and ensuring virile industrial peace and harmony in the polytechnic system,” she said.

We await the decision of the ASUP leadership as they concludes the NEC meeting today.

Remember to stay updated by following this link>> http://campusportal.com.ng/tag/asup-strike

ASUP To Start NEC Meeting Today At YABATECH

This meeting will be held at Yaba College Of Technology (YABATECH) and one of the top issues to be discussed at the meeting is the current situation of the government polytechnics that are currently under lock and key.

After meeting with the senate committee members on education yesterday, it is expected that a breakthrough will be reached as regards the current ASUP Strike with the announcement of the suspension of the strike expected from the NEC members.

The helpless polytechnic students has been at home for over a year due to the lecturers strike and they await a positive news from the ASUP NEC meeting before the week runs out.

Students of YABATECH Beaten and Arrested by the Police during ASUP Strike Protest

The Report Reaching Our Desk Today indicates that about 50 students of the Yaba College of Technology, YABATECH who took to the streets to protest the ongoing strike by ASUP and the government’s insensitivity to it were beating up and arrested by the police.

According to the report, even the buses that were carrying the protesting students were badly damaged.

One Mr. Segun Akinpelu, a journalist with Sahara Reporters was also beaten while his camera and other gadgets were destroyed. The spokesperson of the Joint Action Front, whose members joined the students during the protest has condemned the attack on the students saying that it is a pointer to the fact that the government is not even ready to resolve the issue.

ASUP, COEASU Strike: Lecturers, Lawmakers, Education Minister in Crucial Meeting

The striking lecturers of both polytechnics and colleges of education today met with lawmakers at the National Assembly complex, officials have said.

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

Hundreds of thousands of students nationwide have remained at home since the strikes begun last year.

The ASUP National Publicity secretary, Clement Chirman, confirmed the meeting to PREMIUM TIMES.

“Our meeting is tomorrow by 1, o clock at the National Assembly,” the lecturer said.

“The meeting will involve the House of Representatives members, Minister of Education, probably Head of Service and COEASU members,” he said.

The Chairman of COEASU, College of Education, Zuba, Ahmed Lawal, also confirmed that the union would be present at the meeting.

“Of course the national body of the College of Education (lecturers) will be present at the National Assembly for the meeting with the House of Representatives and Minster of Education on Tuesday,” he said.

The spokesperson to the Education Minister, Simeon Nwakaudu, could not be reached for confirmation on whether the minister would attend the meeting or send a representative.

His telephone numbers were switched off.

Since the strikes began, several meetings have been held to resolve the dispute between the lecturers and the federal government, with the lecturers demanding the sack of the Education Minister, Nyesom Wike. They accused Mr. Wike of not being sincere with resolving the dispute; a charge the minister has denied.

Some of the demands of the lecturer include better working conditions, improved funding of their schools, and removal of dichotomy between university and polytechnic graduates.

A protest in Abuja last month by the lecturers and students was forcefully stopped by police officers who fired teargas to disperse the protesters in front of the federal secretariat.

ASUU Intervenes, Call on FG to Resolve Strike ASUP, COEASU Strike:

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has once again expressed deep concern over the prolonged strike embarked upon by the Academic staff Union of Polytechnics and College of education Academic Staff Union (COEASU).

The ASUU President, Dr Nasir Fagge, pressed on the Federal Government to resolve the contending issues that made lecturers of Polytechnics and colleges of education embarked on the strike urgently.

Fagge, made the call in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the state of the Nation.

For the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the strike has been on for the past ten months now, while for the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union, COEASU, members, the strike has been on for the past 5 months.

It will be recalled that members of the two unions had demanded that the Federal Government should remove the dichotomy between HND and degree graduates and with the NEC meeting slated 27th and 28th of May, the White paper and all matters concerning the lingering strike is expected to be resolved with the Federal Government.

Jigawa State Poly Pulls Out of 10 Month Old ASUP Strike

The Jigawa Polytechnic, otherwise known as Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure has pulled out of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics strike.

Chairman of the ASUP in Jigawa Poly, Comrade Sa’idu Abdullahi, in a communiqué issued after the emergency congress, said the suspension was to allow students complete the disrupted second semester of 2012/2013 academic session.

Despite the withdrawal of the school from the strike, Abdullahi is still in support of the national body because “the issues in contention are actually directed towards the proper strengthening and development of polytechnic education in general. ”

Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Kabir Ibrahim Matazu, who is also the chairman, Council of Heads of Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria (COHEADS) commended the union for calling off the ten-month-old strike.

ASUP, COEASU to Meet FG May 27, NEC Meeting To Hold May 28

A crucial meeting will be held by the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics ( ASUP ), with the Federal Government on Tuesday, 27th May, 2014.

.ASUP and COEASU will also hold a National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting not latter than Wed. 28th, where the unions will decide whether to continue with the industrial action or suspend the strike.

The White paper, Needs for Assesment and HND report is expected to be submitted on the same day.

The Unions’ 9-month-old industrial action brought academic activities on campuses nationwide to its knees was a response to Federal Government’s failure to accede to their Demands.

ASUP Strike: Letter to the Minister of Education - A CALL FOR ACTION

In line with lingering ASUP strike, Andy, a student of the federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State sent in a letter to newsmen tagged “A CALL FOR ACTION” addressed to the Supervising minister of education Barr. Wike Nyesom.

The letter goes thus:

Barr. Wike Nyesom
Supervising Minister,
Federal Ministry of Education,
Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

Sir,

A CALL FOR ACTION

On behalf of Executive Council of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), I bring you our reverential solidarity greetings.

The NAPS is the umbrella body of all Polytechnics, Mono-techniques, Colleges of Technology and other Allied Institutions Awarding National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) across the six geopolitical zones of the Federation and Diaspora.

This Association, which is the second largest student movement in Africa continent, has been in the vanguard of campaign for equity, justice and good governance, free and qualitative education for over two decades.

The contribution of our noble association in bringing about our nascent democracy cannot be over emphasized. NAPS is an affiliate of the International Union of Students’ (IUS), All African Students' Union (AASU), West African Student Union (WASU) and has a consultative working relationship with UNESCO, UNICEF and ECOWAS.

I write to convey the displeasure of Nigerian Students of Higher National Diploma (HND) and Ordinary National Diploma (OND) awarding Institutions.

The problems that confront students and graduates of that session are colossal, but all can be traced to one thing – the discrepancy between HND and BSc.

We therefore wish to put it on record that the wishes of these students are as follows:-

ON THE COMMITTEE OF REVIEW OF POLYTECHNIC CURRICULUM

While there is a need for frequent review of curriculum of all education segment to meet up with International standard, best practice and current trend, we think that the committee set up by the Federal Ministry of Education is untimely and diversionary.

We see no sense in setting up a committee to review the curriculum of a sector that has being on strike for nearly eleven (11) months owing to the inept stand of the Federal Ministry of Education in resolving the ongoing industrial crises in the polytechnic sector.

We wish to state without equivocation that the duty of reviewing the curriculum should be such that the lecturers and necessary professional bodies are carried along as members of the said committee but that should be after the ASUP crises have been put to a halt.

ON HND/BSC DISCRIMINATION

While we commend the Federal Government for setting up a committee to look into the HND/BSC discrimination, we believe that Government has made a monumental mistake by not including HND holders in the committee setup to look into the matter.

It beats our imagination that in a committee setup to solve a problem, those that are affected by the problem will not be part of the committee rather the committee will be made up of those who have always believed that “should HND holders have equal opportunities with the BSc holders, the former will make the later look ordinary”.

Consequently, we demand the immediate inclusion of HND holders in the committee headed by the secretary to the Government of the federation as this is the only way we can have trust and confidence in the committee.

ON ASUP STRIKE

We call on Federal Government to resolve the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) strike within a forth night or face the challenge of taking Nigerian students to detention as we are bent on going back to the classroom or staying and sleeping at the gate of the international airport in Abuja.

Yours in Nation Building,
Com. Ogbonnaya Sunday
National President (NAPS)

Cc:
State Security Service (SSS),
Nigerian Police Force (NPF)
Academic Staff Union of Polytecnics (ASUP)
Press General Public