ASUP begin nationwide strike today

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has said it is embarking on an indefinite nationwide strike on Wednesday (today ).

The ASUP National President , Usman Dutse , confirmed this to our correspondent in an interview on Tuesday, saying the strike would go on because the Federal Government had failed to implement the 2009 and 2017 agreements it reached with the union .

Dutse said the contentious areas which necessitated the strike included the non -implementation of the NEEDS assessment report of 2014 , non – payment of salaries in many state – owned polytechnics , pension deductions and other statutory deductions from staff salaries .

Our correspondent learnt that the ASUP held its 93rd National Executive Council meeting at the Yaba College of Technology , Lagos State, on November 29, where it was first decided that the strike would begin on December 12.

The ASUP president told our correspondent that the union expected a total compliance in all public polytechnics on the strike , beginning from Wednesday.

Dutse said , “ The strike is starting on Wednesday and there is no going back . We expect total compliance in all our polytechnics . December 17 has been fixed for a meeting between the Federal Government ’ s team and us . The government gave us that date and when we get to the meeting , we will see what is on the table . ”