ASUP decries political tension in the country--{Vanguard}

JOS – THE Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, decried the growing political tension in the country warning politicians not to endanger the unity of the country.

In a communique at the end of its National Executive Council, NEC, held at Yandev, Benue State and made available to journalists in Jos, the union advised the political class to weigh the possible consequence of the actions and utterances on the unity and future of the country.
The communique signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Clement Chirman, decried the culture of impunity among politicians urging them to be more statesmanly and mature in their activities.
The union expressed deep concern over the level of insecurity in the country especially in educational institutions and called on government and other stakeholders to demonstrate genuine commitment to guaranteeing the security of lives and property of Nigerians. It again vowed to continue the ongoing strike by its members until government addresses issues tabled by the union because of what it called “the culpable insensitivity of government towards resolution of the 13 core outstanding issues that precipitated the on-going ASUP strike.”
It listed the issues to include, the non-establishment of National Polytechnics Commission, the delay in provision of policy frameworks for the elimination of HND/Degree dichotomy, re-negotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUP agreement and non-implementation of CONTISS 15 migration for the lower cadres.
The communiques tasked government to urgently include monotechnics and colleges of technologies as beneficiaries of the tertiary education trust fund, TETFUND, intervention projects and also the ongoing Needs Assessment of public polytechnics. It added that the appointment of rectors should be done from within the polytechnic system to promote the realization of self-actualization goals among academics within the system