Polytechnic lecturers have vowed not to renege on the nation-wide
strike they embarked upon two months ago. The polytechnic lecturers said
that they would not go back to their duty posts until the Federal
Governor meets their demands.The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) blamed the strike on the nonchalant attitude of the Federal Government towards exercising the political will to meet the demands.
ASUP’s position is contained in the resolution of its 74th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Federal Polytechnic in Oko, Anambra State. The resolution was signed by ASUP National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Clement Chirman.
The union also frowned at the leadership crisis trailing the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) election and called on the governors to conduct themselves in line with democratic principles in order to protect the nation’s future.
Condemning the burden of dichotomy against polytechnic graduates at entry and in career progression in public service, ASUP called for a level-playing ground for graduates from the various tertiary sectors.
It also demanded that polytechnic education be properly and adequately funded by the government, urging it to stop paying lip service to the technical education sector in the country.
The resolution also rejected the discriminatory cut-off points for candidates seeking admission into universities, polytechnics and Colleges of Education and called for harmonisation of the cut-off marks.
While decrying alleged dictatorial attitude by some polytechnic rectors, the union condemned the growing level of corruption in the country’s public service and called on the government to be more proactive in combating the challenges.
It, however, commended the steps so far taken by the government in combating security challenges in some states of the country and called for investment in efforts aimed at protecting lives and property.