=The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address its demands.
The ASUP’s President, Mr. Shammah Kpanja, issued the ultimatum while addressing journalists at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Thursday in Abuja.
Kpanja said the decision followed the Federal Government’s refusal to implement longstanding issues affecting the sector.
He said: “Our union hereby issues a 15-day ultimatum as required by law commencing from October 7 to proprietors of public polytechnics for these items to be addressed.
“At the expiration of the ultimatum, the union’s NEC will reconvene to decide a specific and legitimate course and design of action to address the issues listed.
“Zones and chapters of the Union are to prepare members for necessary action within the 15-day ultimatum through congresses, peaceful protests, and media campaigns on the issues.
“We hope that the 15 days shall be explored by the government to address the issues and save the sector from an imminent shutdown.”
He listed the demands to include the review and reversal of all acts of impunity inconsistent with the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act and other instruments of governance in the sector.
The ASUP president called for the immediate commencement of the review process of the suspended document titled: schemes of Service for Polytechnics 2023 as agreed in the tripartite meeting of July 2024.
According to him, the release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment intervention for public polytechnics and Colleges of Technology was also part of the union’s demands.
The union also demanded the immediate cessation of all acts purporting to undermine, duplicate, or surrender the responsibilities of Academic Boards of Polytechnics in students’ admission processes.