EDUCATION
ASUTIPS STRIKE: NAPS ANNOUNCE MASSIVE PROTEST, SAY POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS ARE TIRED OF WAITING
The Leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has declared a massive protest in Benue state over the prolonged strike by the Academic staff union of Tertiary institutions in Benue State (ASUTIPS).
POLYTV learnt that government owned tertiary institutions in Benue state has been on strike for over three months and all efforts to get the lecturers back to classroom has been futile as they demand for their arrears salary to be paid fully before academic activities can commence in the state.
As a result of these strike action, academic activities has been put to hold in state owned Polytechnics in Benue state amongst other tertiary institutions.
Comrade Innocent Okoh, NAPS Senate President said the association is set for a peaceful protest to pressure state government to reach a compromise with ASUTIPS so that students can resume.
MAPOLY HOST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS (NAPS)
He said,
“The Honorable Commissioner for Education Grant us audience and he promised that soon we shall go back to class and 10th May, 2022 we still visited his office and still ask us to wait for a meeting between the ASUTIPS and Government representatives.
“On 4th March 2022 we pay visit to the Director of DSS to tell him our State of Campus we waited but nothing.
“On 25th March 2022, we visited the Och’Idoma and told him our state of Campuses. He said very soon that the issue shall be settled and you will return to class.”
“I wrote to His Excellency Governor of Benue State, No Response, I wrote to the commissioner of police Benue State Command, No Response.”
“Haven’t exhausted all this areas and can’t get things resolved amicably, we have decided to protest to tell the entire world what is happening in Benue State owned institutions.”
ASUTIBS STRIKE: EXERCISE PATIENCE WITH US – GOVT BEG POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS
Some of the reasons why tertiary institutions in Benue state are on strike include:
- The College of Education in Benue State said, “For over 10years all our school have not been accredited, and this has lead to student’s demonstration in some of the school. NCCE and NBTE will not accredit any school that proprietor is owing staff salaries.” All programs in Benue State Polytechnic are due for Re- accreditation and NBTE says they will never visit for the exercise if government still owes lecturers, this statement was made by the Benue State Polytechnics. Recall that Benue State Government is owing ASUTIPS 5months of 2017 salary arrears and now added another 3 months making a total of 8 months.
- Improper implementation of the Benue State contributory Pension Scheme. It may interest you to know that since government commenced deduction from ASUTIPS Staff, it has not remitted Government a kobo of her counterpart fund of 10 percent Government should stop further deduction and pay back the ones already deducted.
- Non-implementation of the new minimum wage since 2019.
- Stoppage of proposed imposition of Health Insurance Scheme.
- Improper Implementation of our scheme of service leading to the removal of our Chief Librarian from payroll regarding them as non-academic staff.
IMT ENUGU STUDENTS PROTEST SCHOOL FEE INCREMENT
- Government has through BIRS issued Circular Committing our Institution to remit 50 percent of our IGR to a consolidated account which means when students pay caution deposit, exam fee, hostel accommodation, etc. government will take 50 percent of such monies including admission form fees.
Comrade Innocent said that the protest will hold on Tuesday 24th May, 2022 at the state library. He urged Nigerian students who can’t afford to be part of the peaceful protest to make use of social media.
