Restore our salary structure or we strike, polytechnics warn Shekarau

A face-off is developing as the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) have jointly threatened to strike again after the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, suspended their statutory salary structure (CONTISS 15).

In a joint statement issued during the weekend, the unions said a recent circular from the Ministry of Education suspending CONTISS 15, despite the fact that its demands are pending, over six (6) months after it suspended its over 9-month old strike to allow for negotiations.

"Our attention has been drawn to a circular: FME/S/66/C.2/11/270, dated 26th January, 2015 emanating from Minister of Education’s office which purported to have suspended the implementation of CONTISS 15 in polytechnics without recourse to the spirit and letters of agreement with the unions in the sector," the statement read.

Shekarau had on assumption of office urged the unions to suspend their strike in July 2014, which they obliged, giving the Federal Government until the 15th of October 2014 to meet its demands.

But, almost a year after, the unions say their demands, including the release of the white paper on the visitations to federal polytechnics; the polytechnic/university graduates dichotomy and the establishment of a National Polytechnics' Commission; have not been met.

“Unfortunately and sadly, six (6) months after, and despite repeated assurances in several meetings with the Honourable Minister of Education, what we get is the suspension of a statutory salary structure (CONTISS 15) approved by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, which implementation dates back to 2009."

According to them, they have no option but to strike again if nothing is done promptly.

"Failure to reverse this retrogressive and illegitimate directive will leave our unions with no other choice but resort to the last option.

"We also demand that all outstanding issues in our portfolio of demands be concluded forthwith without further delay to avert a completely avoidable breakdown in industrial peace in the polytechnics.”

It will be recalled that in October 2014, ASUP National President, Dr Chibuzor Asomugha, said “members of the union are equally becoming restive" and a strike action cannot be ruled out.