By: Ovedhe Jerry
The National President of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Comr. Dutse Yusuf Usman, has advised lecturers in polytechnic, monotechnics and colleges of education to observe the ethics of the profession and concentrate on their jobs.
Comr. Dutse Yusuf Usman, gave this advise during the opening ceremony of the National Executive Council meeting of ASUP held at the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro.
The Various ASUP executives from different polytechnic, monotechnics and colleges of Education across the country converged at Ozoro to deliberate on various issues bedeviling the warfare of its members and ASUP as a body.
The National President, in his speech listed issues affecting ASUP as, implementation of polytechnics needs allocation, (i.e., at 2009, federal government sent a team to inspect the various polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of Education to know their needs, so that year allocation will be according to their needs), which according to him, has not been implemented since 2012, and the need to review the polytechnic act (establishment of polytechnic) that is obsolete.
Other issues to be discussed included that of non-payments of salaries by some state government despite the release of bailout fund by the federal government to them, 65 years retirement age for polytechnic staffs that is being reduce to 60 by some state governors among others issues.
The host chapter ASUP chairman Comr. Thomas Ojuye on his part, appealed to ASUP members across the country to be resilience in their support to the union and their race in demanding for their rights from both state and federal government, saying, ”we are very close to the tunnel and I assure you all that there is light on the other side of the tunnel.”
He also commend the Zonal executives council for deeming Ozoro chapter fit to host the occasion, noting that they will try their best in taking care of the members all through their stay for the meeting.
Meanwhile the traditional ruler of Ozoro, His Royal Majesty Anthony Ovietoborie Ogbogbo, the Ibuka 1, represented by his palace chiefs had earlier on in his palace prayed ASUP delegates in the meeting to deliberate on issues that will move educational sector of the country forward.
Other dignitaries presents at the meeting includes: Hon Gabriel Alebe, a member of the Polytechnic Governing Council, who represented the chairman of the Governing council, the deputy rector of the polytechnic who represent the Rector, Dr. Jacob Snapp Oboreh, members of ASUP National Executive Council, Zonal excos from the four zones amongst other academia.
