YABATECH Plans to Protest Lingering ASUP Strike Today:
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) Chapter, on Monday said it would protest on April 8, to sensitise the public on the polytechnics’ six-month-old strike.
Mr Adeyemi Aromolaran, Chairman of the Chapter, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the protest was to draw attention to the Federal Government’s lukewarm attitude to its demands.
He said the union was not bothered by the government’s `no work, no pay’ directive, describing it as an old policy, which would not yield any positive result.
“Majority of our members have vowed to continue with the strike, in spite of the no work, no pay threat.
“We have been expecting such directive; it is the only weapon that government always uses to frustrate union members,’’ he said.
Aromolaran said, however, that few members of the union were afraid of the threat, adding that a majority of the members were solidly in support of the struggle.
“ We have been able to eliminate the fear from the mind of the few members, and we will continue with the strike until our demands are met,’’ he added.
Aromolaran expressed the members’ readiness to surmount any pressure from the government to discourage them from carrying on with the strike.
“The threat will not yield any result for the government, as we are determined to fight the battle to finish.
“This is not the first time such a directive will be issued; but in the end, the government will still pay the money; so, what is the need for the threat,’’ the chairman said.
He said the union would study the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) drafted by the Presidential Committee in March, adding that the document would determine the union’s next line of action with government.
“The document will decide our next line of action; the union will study it and see if it is favourable to its members’ cause.
“The union will call a National Executive Council meeting by the middle of April to take a stand; we cannot suspend the strike without a NEC decision,’’ he said.
Aromolaran urged the government to consider the impact of the lingering strike on the students, whose time was being wasted by the lingering strike.
“Government should stop toying with the future of the students; it is a sign of government’s insensitivity to polytechnic education, if it allows the strike to linger on,’’ Aromolaran added. (NAN)
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