By Yemi Itodo
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Benue State Polytechnic Ugbokolo chapter, has resolved to embark on indefinite strike over what it described as “intolerable injustice” meted out to members of the union by the Benue State government.
The resolution was reached at its emergency meeting held at the school premises Thursday, 8th of February, 2018.
According to the union, lecturers received alert for January 2018 salary, rather than June 2017, since the last salary paid was May 2017.
The lecturers also suspected foul play in the last payment as there was no payment voucher raised for the salary and that the payment did not emanate from the Office of the Accountant General of the State, but from the Office of the Head of Service, which to them, was abnormal.
ASUP is also grieved that, the state government released a circular which forcefully retired about 44 Senior members of the union, whose retirements were not due.
The union therefore, resolved to shutdown academic activities in the school indefinitely from Monday 12th February 2018.
Efforts to reach the Head of Service, the Commissioner of Education and some concerned stakeholders failed as none of them picked nor returned calls from our reporter.
Meanwhile, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Mr. David Kuti, has pleaded with the ASUP to shelve its planned industrial action.
Speaking with our reporter via telephone on Friday, Kuti said the error in the payment of recent salary as observed, was not unconnected to software problem.
