From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Academic activities at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, were paralysed, yesterday, following indefinite strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (NASUP).
They are protesting alleged failure of the institution’s management to enroll them on CONTISS 15 Migration Salary Structure and non-payment of N1.8 billion owed them.
ASUP Chairman, Mr. Justin Momodu said the strike would be indefinite until their demands are met by the management.
“We are on indefinite strike because the polytechnic management has refused to negotiate with us. We have resolved that we would not return to the classrooms until all our demands are met,” he said.
Also, Chairman of SSANIP, Mr. Godwin Ikhide said the polytechnic’s management has been paying workers from welfare savings and union dues, which were deducted from their salaries, adding that the union could no longer access loans from its purse because of the huge amounts already borrowed from its account by the school management.
“Members of our union cannot access loans due to the school management owing us N1.8 billion,” he said.
In his reaction, Auchi Poly spokesman, Mr. Mustapha Oshiobugie said management could no longer fund the CONTISS 15 migration salaries, and said management had been using its internally generated revenue to fund salaries of workers.
He added that the management could no longer sustain it.
“What has been going on is that the school has been using internally generated resources to pay salaries, by November last year it was clear that the situation could no longer continue.
“So, we put the union on notice that, by January, if government failed to fund it, we will have no option than to stop, or suspend the payment.
“There is a ministerial directive to all polytechnics that are having problem in paying salaries to suspend further payment until the verification committee set up by the Federal Government comes up with its recommendation on CONTISS 15 as it affects level 11 and below,” Oshiobugie said.
On the alleged N1.8 billion being owed the unions, he said: “That money you are talking about was used to pay their salaries, based on an agreement between the two sides,” he said.
According to Oshiobugie, management hasset up an eight-member committee, comprising members of the unions to workout modalities of repaying the money.