Poly Lecturers Begin Strike Over ‘Poor Working Conditions’

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) at Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe in Bayelsa have commenced an indefinite strike over alleged poor working conditions.

In the communique jointly signed by Agada Franklin, the institution’s ASUP chairman, and Justin Ikirigo, the general secretary, on Tuesday, the union stressed that the industrial action became imperative due to the non-implementation of its demands by the government.

The communique reads: “It recalled that the union suspended an earlier strike, embarked upon on 6th of August, on the 31st of August, 2022, and issued notices of further strike actions between 6th December, 2022, and 10th March, 2023,” the communique reads.

“It made the following demands – the promotion implementation and salary arrears; 2018 promotion arrears, 2019 promotion arrears, 2020 promotion implementation and its arrears, 2021 promotion implementation, and its arrears, and 2022 promotion implementation and its arrears till date.

“The 2023 Implementation of annual incremental step and its arrears from January 2023 to date, the agreed 2% academic allowance, Imprest, removal of Infrastructural decay in the campus (Classrooms, Desks, and teaching aids) – were also on its demand list.

“The lecturers bemoaned the running of the institution from the liaison office after one decade of establishment, poor security in the campus, unkempt working environment, and poor power supply that has cripple academic activities.

“In the light of these observations, congress resolved that effective from Monday, 10th of July, 2023, the union shall embark on an indefinite strike.”

The institution is yet to react to the strike as of the time of this report.