ASUP Strike: FG asks Governing Councils to beg lecturers

….says Government to pay CONTISS 15 in two installments in 2014

The Federal Government Friday, urged  chairmen of Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics to prevail on striking Polytechnic staff to accept the offer made by the government to pay outstanding CONTISS 15 arrears in two installments for the immediate resolution of the ongoing strike.

Supervising Minister of Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike, stated this during a meeting with the Chairmen of the Governing Councils of Federal Polytechnics in Abuja.

He said that the Federal Government's offer also applies to striking Federal Colleges of Education staff and the Government is committed to pay CONTISS 15 in two installments in March, November 2014.

According to him, 'The two installments of the payment of the arrears to both Federal Polytechnics and Colleges stands at over N40billion, with the Federal Government ready to pay in March and November 2014.

'At  our exhaustive meeting with the  Academic Staff  Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, we agreed on the two installmental payment of the CONTISS 15. We have since raised a memo to the President to this effect. I took the risk of committing government because we are deeply worried over the prolonged strike.

'Thereafter, ASUP wrote to inform us that they have rejected this offer. Please,  as chairmen of Polytechnic Governing Councils, we ask that you communicate our commitment to adhering to the schedule of payment. All the processes are on and we are committed to resolving the strike action'.

Wike noted that the Federal Government is worried about the Polytechnic students continued stay at home.

He said the office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation is already concluding work on the release of the agreed White Paper.