By Garba Mohammad
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) Adamawa Polytechnic branch has embarked on an indefinite strike to push for their SIWES allowances.
The union decided to embark on the strike as a result of the failure of the school authorities to regularize the Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) allowances for the branch ASUP for three years.
Before the declaration of the full strike, the union had embarked on a three day warning strike calling on the authorities to settle the issue as they said they had exhausted all avenues of reconciliation with the school authorities.
The Branch Chairman of the union Dr. Coleman Goji said the strike was comprehensive and indefinite until the Governing council and the management of the Polytechnic deemed it fit to resolve the matter.
He said the strike commences from 8th of May, adding that the union has prevailed on the members not to even step into the school compound as the strike lasted.
Goji said, the union has learnt on good authority that Governor Murtala Nyako has made full payment in respect of the SIWES allowances but the management it seems had blatantly refused to use the funds for the purpose they were meant.
He said during the three days warning strike the authorities oblige to pay only 2% out of the 15% of the outstanding allowances for 2011,2012 and 2013 but the union vehemently disagreed with the arrangement leading to the implementation of the full strike action.
In a Press Release signed by the Chairman Governing council of the institution, Dr. Shehu Iya it was stated that the governing council arrived at some resolutions which reads.
“The Council reaffirms that SIWES allowance was the legitimate right of the Academic Staff Union but the position of the council after the meeting still remains that it will support and facilitate the management’s effort in discharging its obligations regarding SIWES allowance as far as resources can allow it when a definitive directive is received from Government.
“The council is in constant contact with all stakeholders regarding the issue and this includes the mother ministry of the polytechnic and Ministry of higher education and other related agencies among others.
“The council was appreciative of the steps taken by the Honorable Commissioner Ministry of Higher Education in ensuring the speedy resolution of the problem.
“The council therefore calls on all well meaning members of the Academic Staff of the Polytechnic to support the efforts of the management and council to ensure that the existing industrial harmony persist” the statement concluded.
