The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), on Monday announced the suspension of industrial action it had earlier threatened after the expiration of a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government over the new Scheme of Service as released by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).

ASUP had at its 110th National Executive Council (NEC), meeting issued a 15-day ultimatum to the federal government and its relevant agencies to withdraw the new Scheme of Service, which it said was skewed against Polytechnics graduates and had worsened the discrimination against Higher National Diploma (HND) holders.

But the union in a statement on Monday night said that after the timely intervention of the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman and the leadership of the NBTE, within the 15-day ultimatum, the circular for the new Scheme of Service was suspended.

Consequently, ASUP reconvened an emergency NEC meeting yesterday to review its earlier position and resolve to suspend the scheduled industrial action as its demands have been given attention.

The statement which was signed by the ASUP President, Comrade Shammah S. Kpanja, read: “Members of the public may recall that our Union issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Government following a resolution to that effect during the 110th meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC).

“The ultimatum was effective from the 8th of July, 2024 and the issue in contention centered on contentious provisions in the new Scheme of Service as released by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) on the 19th of June, 2024.

“Our Union had reviewed the document and identified several provisions that fundamentally altered the tertiary education status of Polytechnics in Nigeria, deepened the condemnable and agelong discrimination against holders of the Higher National Diploma certificate, distorted employee relativity in the Nigeria Polytechnic System, unnecessarily expanded the overheads of the Institutions etc.

“The Union therefore demanded a suspension of the implementation of the contentious provisions and the commencement of a thorough review through a stakeholders’ engagement process.

“The 15-day ultimatum was to provide government ample time to address our grievance or face diverse forms of industrial action by our aggrieved members.

“Within the 15 days period however, our Union’s leadership was invited to a tripartite meeting with the leadership of the NBTE and Federal Ministry of Education on the 19th of July where it was resolved that the implementation of the flawed document be suspended and a review process be initiated in line with the demands of our Union.

“The document was immediately suspended by the NBTE through a circular addressed to Chairmen Governing Councils, Rectors and Provosts of our institution’s same day.

“Following this development, our Union’s NEC reconvened on an emergency note on the 22nd of July to review our earlier position. The NEC therefore resolved to suspend the earlier scheduled industrial action in recognition of the fact that the demands of the Union has been met substantially.

“We appreciate our members’ steadfastness in the face of the unearned provocation; the intervention and inputs of different stakeholders including Rectors of Polytechnics; sister staff Unions and the students through the National Association of Polytechnic Students.

“We are equally appreciative of the productive intervention of the Honorable Minister, Federal Ministry of Education and the receptive disposition of the Executive Secretary of the NBTE in arriving at the decisions as well as the media for once again being worthy partners.

“Our Union shall therefore dedicate energy and time in the coming days to preparations for the review exercise so as to finally produce a document that will reflect the aspirations of the sector.

Solidarity………. Forever!“ the statement added. (Vanguard)

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