By Idris Auwal
The Concerned Members of the to be registered Academic Staff Union of Federal Polytechnics, ASUFEP reiterated the commitment of the federal polytechnics’ staff to leave the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP for the existence of disparity and dictatorship in the Union.

The Chairman of the concerned federal polytechnics’ staff Comrade Dr. Nantawe Audu Dakom said that the federal polytechnics’ staff are leaving the ASUP membership because the Union cannot cater for the needs and aspirations of the Federal polytechnics staff.
“We are like a cow that never enjoys its milk because we don’t have representatives in the ASUP while we are the power engine of the Union”.
Dr. Audu said with 53 state polytechnics, 40 federal polytechnics, the state polytechnics mostly align with monotechnics to keep the leadership position at the state level and never give chance for the academic staff of the federal polytechnics to lead the ASUP.
“ The present ASUP is characterized by the state polytechnics staff, and as such cannot defend the interest of the federal polytechnics’ staff”.
“Take for example, the federal polytechnics’ staff enjoy the N35, 000 wage award, the minimum wage and the 25% salary increment to be implemented by the Federal Government while the states pay below, how do you expect state own staff polytechnics will pursue our interests?”
“The dues charge is much, and we cannot continue to pay for what we don’t enjoy while in ASUFEP staff are to pay 0.5% dues”, Comrade Nantawe Audu Dakom added.
On his part, the Secretary of the Concerned Members of ASUFEP, Ogu Musa Akwe lamented on the impending problems in the ASUP saying that the Union has become a money making venture for the academic staff of the state polytechnics.
“They keep recycling positions, and as members of state institutions they cannot cater for our collective interests”.
“To give you a good example of why ASUP must be split, there was a time ASUP was pursuing interests from the Federal Government and the Minister said to the Chairman of ASUP and other state members that they are not his staff”.
“If we continue like this, Federal Polytechnics cannot achieve their missions and be able to cater for the collective interests of their polytechnics staff, now we have 30 polytechnics that accepted the formation of ASUFEP and we are on registration level. The ASUFEB will take up after we have our registration certificate from the Government.”
A very welcome development.
100% okay a very good development, I personally discuss it with a colleague that we vote for a candidate from Fed poly as ASUP National President