A group, Education Rights Campaign (ERC), said it is giving support to the on-going strike action embarked upon by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) at the Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger state. The unions are demanding payment arrears of their salary, an end to victimisation, and adequate funding of education among others.

A statement issued Monday, signed by its Northern Coordinator, Dimeji Macaulay, and Secretary, Akande Daniel, the group blamed the Dr Abubakar Dzukogi-led management of the polytechnic for the continued industrial action embarked upon by the staff unions which has lasted for four months.

“As we go to press, it remains unclear when the ongoing strike action will end. Over ten thousand students have been thrown into confusion while community members are also adversely affected.

“The full payment of salary is a right and we demand its immediate payment across the board. We also call for the adequate funding of education by both the federal and the state governments and the management of the Federal Polytechnic Bida led by Dr Abubakar Dzukogi.

“We wish to note that members of ASUP and SSANIP have taken this option of strike due to the management refusal to meet all agreements reached with the union.

“We urge ASUP and SSANIP and their members not to relent on in this struggle. We also urge them not to limit this struggle to a sit-at-home strike action but to commence mobilisation of members and students in mass protests in Bida, Minna and Abuja. This to us is the best way to give publicity to the cause the unions are fighting for and also to win the support of students and parents for their legitimate demands.

“We call on Students’ Union in the Federal Polytechnic Bida as well as the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) to give concrete solidarity and support to this strike by commencing immediate mobilisation of students to protest in solidarity with ASUP and SSANIP and their members.

“We also call on the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Niger State to commence solidarity actions in support of the strike,” the statement noted.

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