The government has offered to disburse N15 billion for the revival of polytechnics and monotechnics, as well as to cover minimum wage arrears.

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) called off its two-month-long statewide strike on Wednesday.

Abdullahi Yalwa, ASUP’s National Publicity Secretary, made the announcement in an Abuja press conference on Wednesday.

He stated that the strike would be suspended beginning Thursday (June 10).
On April 6, ASUP went on a countrywide strike to lobby for its goals.

The union’s grievances include the poor state of public polytechnics and monotechnics, as well as the failure to pay the new minimum wage for ten months.
The Federal Government had offered to release N15 billion for the revitalization of polytechnics and monotechnics, as well as money to cover minimum wage arrears.

Mr Yalwa stated that ASUP has decided to call off the strike due to progress made in its talks with the federal government.

“Following appraisal of a report indicating gradual implementation of the items contained in the memorandum of action signed between our union and the Federal Government, the union has resolved to suspend its 65-day-old industrial action with effect from June 10.

”The suspension is for a period of three months to enable the government complete execution of the items contained in the memorandum of action signed with the union since April 27,” he said.

Some demands, such as the reconstitution and inauguration of governing councils and visitation panels of federal polytechnics, had been met by the government, according to Mr Yalwa.

”We are led to believe that the release of funds for infrastructure revitalisation and minimum wage arrears is currently being processed,“ he said.

Mr Yalwa further stated that attempts were being made to revise the Polytechnic Scheme of Service and Conditions of Service.

He also stated that work on resolving the CONTISS 15 migration arrears for the lower cadre had commenced.

He went on to say that the union was also pleased with the recent passing of a bill that would end the discrimination against holders of a Higher National Diploma.

”In reaching the decision to suspend the strike, our union took into cognizance appeals made by the government, revered traditional stools, National Assembly, chairmen of governing councils of federal polytechnics and the members of the public who showed varied interests in the matter.

”It is the expectation of our union that the suspension of this action will provide an enabling environment for the government to fulfill other aspects of the memorandum of action and afford the government an opportunity to reverse its trust deficit within our sector.

”We appreciate the different layers of intervention by critical stakeholder groups in the sector within the period,” he said.