Education

Polytechnic workers issues FG a 21-day ultimatum, threaten strike

Published

4 years ago

2020/10/07

The senior staff members of Nigerian polytechnics, have issued a 21-day ultimatum to embark on an indefinite strike if the Federal Government failed to certain address lingering issues associated with the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System.

After an emergency meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the polytechnic workers, under the umbrella of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, expressed their displeasure with the way the National Board for Technical Education had handled the scheme of service.

In a communiqué read to journalists at the end of the meeting, the National President of SSANIP, Philip Ogunsipe, said the workers’ grievances include the non-release of the new minimum wage arrears, inconsistencies in the release of third-party deductions, non-payment of COVID-19 hazard allowance for health workers, high draconian tax regime on consolidated salary, delay in promotion arrears, among others.

Ogunsipe said, “Against this backdrop, the council wishes to call on the relevant agencies of government to expedite actions toward resolving these highlighted challenges.

“Equally, the council wishes to frankly state that failure of the IPPIS to address these highlighted challenges within 21 days from the date of this communiqué will leave the union with no other option than to review its stance on IPPIS.”

“The council resolved that any attempt to foist a scheme of service document on SSANIP without our input is unacceptable and therefore, would be an invitation to an atmosphere of disharmony.” He said