The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) says it has not started negotiations with the Federal Government to address contentious issues in the new scheme of service.
ASUP Zone D Coordinator, Dr Iloma Richard, who stated this at a news conference in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, said that the proposed document could severely harm polytechnic education in the country.
“Negotiation has not yet begun with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to address the issue of new scheme of service,” he said.
Different chapters of ASUP also rejected the new scheme of service for polytechincs.
The National Board for Technical Education clarified on Monday that the new schemes of service approved by FG are meant for federal polytechnics and not state-owned polytechnics.
Earlier, ASUP gave NBTE a 15-day ultimatum, ending on June 22, to suspend the implementation of the disputed scheme of service or risk industrial action.
However, Richard said that the union would mobilise members to strike if public polytechnics authorities did not meet ASUP’s demands.
“Ever since the 15-day ultimatum was issued, NBTE has failed to convene a single meeting of stakeholders to address the issues in contention,” he said.
Richard stated that suspension of the scheme of service was necessary because some of its provisions were below the standard.
The ASUP official said that the union was averse to a provision in the new scheme making the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation an approving authority.
