The Nigerian polytechnic lecturers had on Saturday 12 July, 2014, announced that they had suspended their strike action in order for the new Education Minister, Ibrahim Shekarau to consider the lecturers’ demands.
"We have suspended the strike for three months, with effect
from July 15. It is not based on any offer but for the sake of the
system and our students… The suspension is for only three months to give
the new minister some time as requested; we do not want to welcome him
with strike. The minister has given us assurance and we want to give him
the benefit of a doubt," a statement signed by ASUP president read.
* ASUP boss Chibuzo Asomugha
However, while speaking with our correspondent after the
announcement of the suspension of the indefinite strike action, Asomugha
said: "We had to suspend the industrial action immediately we met with the new minister because of some things which he told us.
"Particularly, appeals from the various stakeholders and the
overwhelming threat of irreversible hurt to polytechnic education were
some reasons we had to give in to the minister’s request."Lecturers in Nigerian polytechnics have been encouraged to put in double efforts to fully ameliorate the loss suffered as a result of the strike."
When asked what are the likely steps the body would take if the necessary steps are not taken by the Federal Government within the three months given by ASUP, Asomugha noted that: "The Federal Government should invest requisite human and material resources to ensure that all outstanding issues are resolved within the three-month window in order to avert a resumption of the strike."
* New minister of education, Ibrahim Shekarau
Also commenting on why ASUP agreed to suspend the industrial action
after over nine months of agitation, president of ASUP in Federal
Polytechnic of Ado-Ekiti, Tunde Owoeye, stated that the change of
minister of education made them to reconsider their stand.
He said: "The fact that former minister of education, Nyesom Wike
was removed was [the] key because he did not display any tactical
intelligence to help us with the crisis neither was he helping our
cause."Moreover, the newly appointed minister had advised us previously on the strike action and considering his wealth of experience, we had to allow him have his way for the period he asked for."
Since ASUP decided to suspend the strike action, students of Nigerian polytechnics have not relented in making their joy known over the decision.
Some of the students who spoke with newsmen had expressed gratitude to the leadership of ASUP for finally reaching a compromise for their sake.
Bukola Alabi, a student of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, western Nigeria, said: "The most important thing is that we are resuming fully on 15 July, 2014. All thanks to God and ASUP for considering us in their decision-making process."
Another student, simply identified as Glory, who expressed her excitement over the latest development, opined that it had been nine horrible months for her as she had to endure a lot of hardship throughout the period of the strike.
* Nigerian polytechnics lecturers protesting recently
The part two student of Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos said: "I am the happiest of all students returning to school. I am so happy that I feel like crying because I faced a lot of difficulties while staying at home for those horrible nine months. Thank God everything is over now and we can finally concentrate on our study after almost a year idling away at home".
Another student of FEDPOADO, who did not want her name published, narrated: "I finished my industrial training long ago but I couldn’t stop going to the office because I just couldn’t stay at home. Now that everything has been settled, I’ll be in school even before others arrive. I cannot wait to resume my academics."
As academic activities are expected to resume in polytechnics across Nigeria this week, many students, parents and other concerned people hope that before the ‘grace period’ given to the new education minister Shekarau expires, the truce would finally be reached and Polytechnic education in Nigeria will be revamped.
source:http://news.naij.com/69650.html
0 Response to "ASUP President Threatens Another Strike Action"
Post a Comment