ASUP joins ASUU in the indefinite strike.

The problems in the education sector in Nigeria is compounded as the polytechnic teachers made good their threat by embarking on an indefinite strike nationwide. The university lecturers have been on strike for over three months unresolved.

Polytechnic teachers, under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), also began a nationwide strike this morning (Monday) over a number of grievances, including alleged government’s nonchalant attitude towards technical and technological education, as well as underfunding of the institutions.

The Zonal Coordinator of ASUP in the South-West zone, Mr. Dosunmu Babatunde, who addressed journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital Sunday, argued that the technological and overall development of the country is only achievable through functional polytechnic education.

He, however, expressed regret that the federal and state governments are allegedly not paying any serious attention to polytechnic education.

Giving reasons why his union members had to go on strike, Babatubde listed “worrisome state of polytechnic education in the country, especially those owned by the state.”

He specifically mentioned the state-owned polytechnics in Kwara, Ondo and Ogun as some of those suffering from avoidable decay.

Other grievances, he disclosed, included alleged refusal of most state governments to implement the approved new salary scale for polytechnic teachers and the 65 years retirement age”.

Babatunde also mentioned alleged “imposition of professors from outside the polytechnic sector as rectors” and “the need for the commencement of the Needs Assessment of Nigerian Polytechnics so as not to allow the sector to collapse totally.”