ASP Knocks ASUP Over 'Outrageous' Demands, Abandons Strike

Rumors suggesting that the protracted strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) may die a natural death soon may not be wrong after all.

The management of Adamawa State Polytechnic (ASP), Yola on Wednesday joined the list of polytechnics packing up the strike tent after it directed  all lecturers and students of the institution to resume on Monday, June 16th.

Speaking at a press conference, the Rector of the polytechnic, Professor Umar Bobboi, said ASUP's demands are inordinate and contrary to labour laws.

“The demand for payment of 15% SIWES allowance arrears for the period between August 2011 and December 2013, amounting to N160 million is outrageous,” Bobboi said.

Bobboi, who said ASUP's action is ill motivated, disclosed that ASP has already commenced the payment of SIWES allowance arrears to academic staff effective from August 2011 to July 2012 with internally generated revenue as directed by the Yola government.

In a related twist however, the ASP ASUP chairman, Comrade Coleman Goji, said the strike will continue until all demands are met.

Goji called on the lecturers and students to disregard the Rector's resumption announcement.

This is coming even as the national executives of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) meets today to review the ongoing strike and negotiations with the Federal Government.