ASUP Set to Call Off Strike

By Dayo Adesulu & Laju Arenyeka

National President of the  Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics,  ASUP,  Dr  Chibuzor Asumogba has said that the 73-day old strike embarked on by his union will be called off in two weeks time.

This was even as the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Dr Nasir Isa Fagge told Vanguard that the  10-day-old  varsity lecturers strike would continue.

Asumogba,  in an interview with Vanguard after the meeting with the Joint National Assembly Committees on Education, indications emerged that the Federal Government would accede to their demands.

He said: “Our meeting with the Senate Committee on Education was successful. There was an agreement to meet our demands in the next two weeks as the request will be presented to President Goodluck Jonathan for his approval.”

He said that the Senate  Committee Chaired by Senator Uche Chukwumerije however, pleaded that the union should call-off their strike and give it some time to convey their demands to the President.

Asumogba who noted that he cannot unilaterally call off the strike based on government’s promise added, “We will determine when to call off our industrial action after our NEC meeting slated in two weeks.”

According to him,  ASUP demands waiting for presidential approval include; implementation of the Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure, the Consolidated Polytechnic and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS), package, the appointment of the governing council and the issuance of the White Paper on same.

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