The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has given the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum to address a series of unresolved issues affecting Nigeria’s polytechnic education system, warning that failure to act could result in a nationwide strike.
At a press briefing held in Abuja on Friday, ASUP President Shammah Kpanja outlined the union’s major concerns, including delays in the establishment of the National Polytechnics Commission. The proposed regulatory body, modeled after existing commissions for universities and colleges of education, has faced legislative delays, prompting the union to call for expedited transmission of the executive bill to the National Assembly by the Ministry of Education.
Kpanja also raised concerns about the continued engagement of external consultants for accreditation exercises in polytechnics, citing doubts over the qualifications and neutrality of some of the personnel involved.
ASUP reiterated its longstanding demand to eliminate the disparity between Higher National Diploma (HND) holders and university degree holders, noting that the unequal treatment continues to undermine the morale of polytechnic graduates and hamper the sector’s development.
The union further expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to fully implement key provisions of the 2010 ASUP-FGN agreement. These include the payment of the Peculiar Academic Allowance, as well as the full rollout of the 25–35% salary review, which ASUP said remains unfulfilled despite being provided for in the national budget.
ASUP also criticised the removal of certain allowances from the federal budget and the lack of adequate follow-up from relevant agencies such as the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) and the Federal Ministry of Education. In state-owned polytechnics, the situation is compounded by the non-implementation of the new ₦70,000 minimum wage in several states.
The union raised additional concerns over the delayed release of the second tranche of the approved NEEDS Assessment intervention fund, while noting that no evaluation has been carried out on how the first tranche was utilised.
In its call for reforms, ASUP advocated for a more transparent and professionally managed quality assurance system for polytechnics, aimed at maintaining and enhancing academic standards.
The union also urged the government to reconvene negotiations on the 2010 agreement, particularly on lingering issues such as the payment of CONTISS 15 arrears and promotion arrears dating as far back as 2014 and 2019.
Citing a lack of visible progress on several key demands, ASUP’s National Executive Council has resolved to issue a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government.
“Should these issues remain unresolved, the union may be compelled to declare a trade dispute and commence the withdrawal of services across all public polytechnics and monotechnics nationwide,” ASUP warned.
