ASUP Flays Move To Reduce Lecturers’ Retirement Age

OLEH—ACADEMIC Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, has condemned moves by some state governments in the country to reduce the retirement age of polytechnic lecturers from 65 to 60 years. It also decried the non-payment of salaries to its members by some state governments, warning that the situation could lead to sabotage and negligence of duty on the part of its members. Speaking during the 85th National Executive Council meeting of ASUP, at Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, National President of the union, Dutse Usman, emphasised the need for “lecturers to shun unethical practices and concentrate on their jobs and be role models to students. “Every sector of the economy is facing great challenges and so also is the educational sector of the country, that is why we are here to deliberate on these issues and review them. “The issues include that of the implementation of the needs allocation of all federal polytechnics. As at 2009, the Federal Government sent a team to all federal polytechnics to review their needs so that resources will be allocated to them according to their needs. The process of inspecting was completed by 2012, but up till now, the Federal Government has not implemented it. “Another is that of, the need to review the Polytechnic Act. The law regulating the establishment of polytechnics is obsolete, so it needs to be reviewed to the standard of this time.” Earlier in his remarks, Chairman of ASUP at the Delta State Polytechnic, Ozoro, Thomas Ojuye charged members of the union across the country not to relent in making their demands to the federal and state governments.

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