The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has called off its two-week warning strike and instructed members across Nigeria to return to work on Monday, December 16, 2024.
The strike, which began on December 2, 2024, was in protest against the government’s neglect of polytechnic education and other unresolved issues.
In a statement dated December 12 and shared on Friday, ASUP’s National President, Shammah Kpanja, said the union reached the decision after a conciliation meeting with officials of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
“At the meeting, a new memorandum of understanding was signed with a caveat that another meeting will be held on 23rd January 2025 to assess compliance by parties as well as address other issues,” Kpanja explained.
He noted that the National Executive Council of the union would meet in January to review the situation ahead of the next meeting with the government.
Speaking about the purpose of the strike, Kpanja stated, “The general public may recall that our union declared a two-week definite strike effective 2nd December 2024 over the inability of government through its agencies to execute nine items in the work plan jointly developed with our union to resolve some pending issues of trade dispute.”
He emphasized that the strike served as a warning and a precursor to an indefinite strike if the issues were not addressed.
Kpanja urged members to comply with the directive to resume duties, saying, “In view of this development, all members of the union are directed to resume duties from Monday, 16th December 2024.”
ASUP had previously warned of an impending indefinite strike if the government failed to meet its demands, including addressing issues such as poor funding, infrastructural decay, and workers’ welfare. The January meeting will determine the next steps for the union and the government.
