ASUP Threatens Strike Over IPPIS Challenges

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, has threatened to embark on strike following the challenges they are facing with the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

Anderson Ezeobe, President of ASUP, while Speaking to journalists in Abuja, stated that the 15-day ultimatum issued by the union remained valid stating that the National Executive Council of the union has directed various chapters to hold congresses with a view to taking drastic decisions on the way forward on the issue.

He said the organs of the union had met to review the situation regarding the way and manner the implementation of IPPIS had surcharged members of the union accusing the government of insincerity, noting that it has failed to address the union’s grievances.

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He said, “We can’t be giving an ultimatum and be repeating an ultimatum; we decided to go back on our congress to take a referendum because we have to educate our congress.

“The trade union is an epitome of democracy, so we are taking the matter to our congress to say, this is what has happened and the same way, we will explain to our chairmen, and they’ll take the matter back to congress and then our congress will decide on the direction to take.

“We understand that the pandemic has altered a lot of dynamics and so with the feedback we get from our members, we can come back and say, we are shutting down or giving a particular date. So we are waiting for directives that will come from our congress.”

The ASUP leader said the union would hold the government responsible if anything happened to any of the community memeber.

“On the proposed resumption of schools, if anything happens to our members and the polytechnic community.”

He said, “On the issue of resumption of the schools, we have held a meeting with chief executives in Federal polytechnics, and we made it clear to them that beyond filling of forms or questionnaire, we told them that not one polytechnic is ready for safe resumption.

“It is not about filling questionnaire, any institution that claims that it is ready, it is only interested in opening to generate funds from students fees; none is ready, and if you’re ready, show us what you have on the ground

“And let me say it again, we are going to hold the government of Nigeria responsible if there’s any outbreak of this deadly disease in any campus of Nigerian polytechnics.”

This is coming three days after the senior staff of Nigerian polytechnics issued a 21-day ultimatum to embark on an indefinite strike if the Federal Government failed to address lingering issues associated with the IPPIS.