Why We Are Still On Strike-Polytechnic Teachers 

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), said  that the N15bn approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the the revitalization of infrastructure in the Polytechnics across the country, had not been released

The National President of the union, Anderson Ezeibe who disclosed this in Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwanna, Afikpo, Ebonyi State, on Monday, while briefing journalists after the Congress of the union in the Polytechnic.

He  explained  that the money was not meant for the welfare of her members.

He accused the Federal Government of  insensitivity to the plights of the union,just as he picked holes in the implementation of the Federal Government’s “no work, no pay threats” on the striking lecturers.

He said:”The calling off of our strike is in the hands of federal government. The issues in contention are very clear and the union is still on strike as at today. The congress today was only meant to educate our members, update them, let them get to know where we are on each of the items of the strike.

“The congress does not have the powers to review or suspend the strike, it is the responsibility of the National Executive council of the union. For now, the strike is in full force and you call see that the strike is being observed in totality.

“The issue of no work, no pay is very contentious. It is very contentious because if the union has met the legal requirement before embarking on a strike, then the government cannot be on a strong legal footing to implement no work, no pay.

“If we have given all the notices that is required of us from the trade union act, given the government every ample opportunity to resolve the issues with our union, then the government cannot be standing on both legal and moral ground to start talking about no work, no pay.

“The government in itself provided the incentive for the strike, they provided the incentive for the strike because they have neglected the sector, because they refused to respond to series of letters, complaints written to them by the union spanning over one year.

“The notice for this strike was issued in March last year. And so, if the government could not respond to these issues within one year, then you would agree with me that the government has provided incentive for the strike.

“The offer of N15bn by the federal government is not to the union, the money will not be given to the union. It is for the revitalization of infrastructure in the sector. So, it is not money made available to the union, it is not money for the members of the union. We need to make this clarification very clearly. Yes, that offer has been made but it is for four years old”