Members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe chapter in Bayelsa, have initiated an indefinite strike due to unsatisfactory working conditions, including unpaid academic allowances and promotion arrears.
The decision to go on strike was reached during an emergency congress on Monday and was outlined in a communique signed by ASUP Chairman, Comrade Agada Franklin, and General Secretary, Justin Ikirigo. Efforts to resolve the issue at a stakeholders’ meeting led by Amb.
Godknows Igali proved futile as the union insisted on the implementation of their demands before considering ending the strike. The union expressed discontent over the non-implementation of accumulated promotion arrears from 2018 to 2022, as well as the non-implementation of annual incremental steps and related arrears from January 2023 onwards.
Other grievances include the non-payment of the agreed 2% academic allowance, refusal to pay imprest, deteriorating infrastructure such as classrooms, desks, and teaching aids, and the poor running of the institution from a liaison office instead of the campus. The strike began on July 10, 2023, and the Rector, Dr. Agbabiaka Adegoke, has not provided any comments or responses regarding the situation.
