Breaking news: ASUP suspends planned strike

The Academic Staff Union of Universities of Applied Sciences (ASUP) has announced the suspension of its planned strike in connection with the newly introduced service regulations for universities of applied sciences.

A statement released on Monday said: ASUP stated that his decision to suspend the planned industrial action was the result of discussions with the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman.

Naija News reports that the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) on June 19, 2024, introduced new rosters for Nigerian polytechnics, approved by the Federal Government, effective from June 7, 2024.

However, the Polytechnic Academic Staff Union opposed these new plans, claiming they had been developed without sufficient involvement of all stakeholders, particularly the union and other stakeholders in the polytechnic sector.

In view of these concerns, the union issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government on 8 July 2024, calling on it to stop the implementation of the new work programme or risk facing union members with various forms of industrial action.

In a statement following the National Executive Council meeting, the union made it clear that the 15-day ultimatum is intended to give the government sufficient time to address our concerns, otherwise we risk facing various forms of industrial action from our members.

“However, within the 15-day deadline, the leadership of our union was invited to a tripartite meeting with the leadership of the NBTE and the Federal Ministry of Education on July 19, where it was decided to suspend the implementation of the erroneous document and initiate a review process in line with the demands of our union.

“The NBTE promptly repealed the document through a circular to the chairmen, administrators, principals and provosts of our institutions on the same day. Following this development, our union’s NEC reconvened in an emergency meeting on July 22 to review our previous position.

“The NEC has therefore decided to suspend the previously planned industrial action as the demands of the union have been substantially met. We appreciate the steadfastness of our members in the face of this undeserved provocation as well as the intervention and contributions of various stakeholders including Rectors of Polytechnics, sister unions and the students through the National Association of Polytechnic Students.

“Our union will therefore invest a lot of energy and time in the coming days in preparing for the review in order to ultimately produce a document that reflects the aspirations of the sector,” the union said.