The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has suspended its over two-month-old strike. The national president of the union, Usman Dutse confirmed to newsmen that the the strike had been suspended after a NEC meeting in Abuja. However, the union said it would not hesitate to resume the strike if the government failed to review the memorandum of action and ensure full implementation before the end of May 2019.
All members of the union have been directed to resume academic activities as from Wednesday February 13th, 2019.
The ASUP president also disclosed that the request for a revitalisation fund of N15 billion had been met by the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu.
He said the union is expecting that the fund will be available for disbursement to deserving institutions by April 2019.
Mr dutse further revealed that on the issue of salary shortfall, promotion arrears and allowances, the union has been informed of the release of N16.7 billion covering agencies of government, including affected polytechnics cleared by the Presidential Initiative for Continuous Audit for shortfalls and promotion arrears.
He said a circular been released to all rectors conveying increased personnel funding for 2019 and directing the payment of full salaries and allowances in polytechnics. A schedule from the office of the Federal Ministry of Finance containing institutions contained in phase 1 of the shortfall refund payments has been released.
According to him, 11 institutions have been cleared to receive funds from the approved tranche and the union has been reassured that the next phase will contain more institutions.
