ASUP Suspends Two Months Strike

- The minister of education, Malam Adamu Adamu, notes that the minister of finance has been directed to source for additional funding to the tune of N30 billion for the purpose of revitalizing facilities in public tertiary institutions

- Adamu discloses that the national board for technical education has also been directed by the government to strengthen its regulatory mechanism as regards state-owned polytechnics

Academic activities in polytechnics across the country may soon resume as the federal government has reportedly reached an agreement with Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) who are currently on strike.

The minister of education, Malam Adamu Adamu, said the federal government has released the sum of N16.8bn to settle outstanding arrears of polytechnic lecturers, Daily Trust reports.

Adamu reportedly told journalists at a media briefing that arrears and shortfalls in salary were currenlt being addressed across board by the government.

“Disbursement is ongoing through the Office of the Accountant General of the federation,” he said.

The minister told the journalists that federal government had directed the minister of finance to source for additional funding to the tune of N30 billion the purpose of revitalizing facilities in public tertiary institutions with particular reference to polytechnics and colleges of education.

Adamu disclosed that the national board for technical education had been directed by the government to strengthen its regulatory mechanism as regards state-owned polytechnics.

He said directive to the national board for technical education included developing a new template for accreditation to address observed weaknesses and to ensure that proprietors of polytechnics including states and private owners meet their obligations to their staff.

In a related news report, the federal government has reportedly hinted that an agreement has been reached with members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The lecturers have been on strike since November 5, 2018 but according to Daily Trust, breakthrough seems to have been achieved.

The minister of education, Adamu Adamu, spoke at a conference in Abuja where he said an agreement was reached with the union which was expected to call off the strike.

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