National President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, Comrade Usman Dutse, speaks with MOSES JOHN on the lingering industrial disputes in the institutions among other national issues
You gave govt ultimatum late last year which elapses this January, what is the next step?
Yes, we gave government ultimatum in December 2016, over pending issues. The ultimatum has since expired. Though government had invited us for a meeting, and that is ongoing. We have also summoned a meeting of our organ, the National Executive Council (NEC) between 24-25 January 2017, to deliberate on the challenges as well as our meeting with the government so as to take decision on the next line of action.
You recall that Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) embarked on an industrial action in 2014 over some of these issues that disrupted academic activities in polytechnics for 11 months, strike to us is avoidable if government at all levels do the needful.
Some of these issues are shortfall in personnel, non-payment of academic allowances, needs assessment, review of the Polytechnic Act, dichotomy between HND and BSC, interference in union activities by some rectors of federal polytechnics, promotion arrears, non-appointment of boards of federal polytechnics and non-implementation and arrears of CONTISS 15.
Government must not allow the polytechnic sub-sector to collapse. We urge well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on government on this matter. We don’t like going on strike but government should do the needful to salvage the sub-sector.
What is the union doing about alleged victimisation of members by some rectors?
Well, we are taking the matter seriously because if we don’t address the situation now, our members would suffer in the hands of rectors. They must know that unionism is a right of a worker therefore we cannot allow any rector to intimidate our members. We are calling on the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to urgently look into the issue. We expect ASUP NEC to give directive on this and other issues.
What is your take on FG’s plan to renegotiate the 2009 pact with unions in education sector?
It is long overdue because the agreement ought to have been renegotiated in 2012, this is five years after. Despite request by the unions in the sector for a constitution of a team to do that. So, for us, it is a welcome development because already Government had constituted a committee for the universities, while that of the polytechnics is on the way.
The most unfortunate thing about the 2009 agreement is that most of the items on the document have not been implemented. While we are happy for the renegotiation, but also government must deem it fit to implement after all said and done.
What is ASUP expectation in 2017?
ASUP as a union has a lot for the year, but you know it cannot operate in isolation, considering the economic challenges the country is faced with. Also, the challenges affect what an individual or a group can do. We are taken cognisant of the situation and also hope things will improve soon to bring about development and progress in the sector.
You know that we have some lingering issues from 2016, like the review of the Polytechnic Act, our hope is that in the first quarter of 2017, the review would be completed.
Also, there is the issue of NEEDS assessment which we believe the implementation will commence this year. Though there is the issue of non-payment if salaries in the states, but we want to thank God that some states have started clearing the backlogs and we pray for the sustainability of salary payment.
In most states and federal institutions, there has been delay in the promotion of staff, you have case of staff that were promoted since 2012 till date there has been no implementation and financial benefits while arrears are hanging. We hope that these things will be addressed this year to avert any industrial disharmony in the system.
You have always advocated for improved budget to education, would you say the 2017 budget proposal meets the UNESCO standard?
The budget proposal before the National Assembly for the education sector is the same with that of last year, so government needs to improve funding to the education sector, that is what we have been agitating for.
If you are talking about diversification of the economy, you need education to innovate before you can diversify. We also believe technical and vocational education is the best tools to achieve this, considering that it is capital intensive, government must fund the sector properly so as to develop the facilities and infrastructure so that our youths can acquire adequate and relevant skills to help emancipate the economic from the situation we are in. But the most unfortunate thing is that, government always pays lip service. You will see them talking about the potentials, but there is lack of commitment towards achieving the potentials.
Also for government to achieve its target for education, there is need to improve supervision, regulation and control of the sector. This is because if you allow things to be done the way some persons wish and not in accordance with the rules, then resources and other human resources would be wasted.
So, government needs to improve in its regulatory role and their financial commitment to the sector.
Dichotomy between HND and Bsc, what is the situations now?
At our meeting recently with National Council of Establishment, that resolution was passed that the entry and exit point between HND and Bsc are the same. The only requirement is the PGD, and the only thing left for that to be in operation is the communique which we asked government to urgently release so that it can take effect. And this would motivate those affected.
What is your take on the state of the nation?
The general situation in the country is alarming, because everything revolves around the economy and we believe if the economy improves lots of things would be better.
For instance, the price of crude is going up. For insurgency in the North-east, the military had told us that Boko Haram has been defeated, but we know that it also comes with lots of challenges. Now that the insurgents are scattered round the country, the army must employ other intelligence gathering with the help of the citizens to fish them out.
On kidnapping, we want government to do more to tackle the challenges in the country because it seems like kidnapping is fast becoming a lucrative activities for perpetrators. Government must beef up security around schools, and every community to avoid such in the society.
We urge well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on government on this matter. We don’t like going on strike but government should do the needful to salvage the sub-sector…