ASUP urges FG to address insecurity, high cost of food

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) on Sunday urged government at all levels to tackle prevailing insecurity as well as high cost of food in the country.

The union after her National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Auchi Polytechnic, Edo state also lamented over the deplorable roads in Nigeria, calling for urgent steps to fix them to avoid incessant road crashes.

According to the communiqué signed by the National Publicity Secretary  of the union, Comrade Abdullahi Yelwa , the union urge government and other stakeholders to ensure compliance with the provisions of the 2019 amended Polytechnic Act in all institutions for the purposes of uniformity in quality and standards.

The communiqué reads: “NEC appreciates President Muhammad Buhari GCFR for approving N15 billion as revitalisation fund for Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology in Nigeria and also appealed to him to direct the immediate release of the fund to enable the sector enjoy the benefit of addressing critical infrastructural deficits.  

“NEC calls on government at all levels to address the terrible state of security across the country and the disturbing threats to lives of citizens amplified by attacks on staff and students across all strata of education in the country.  

“NEC calls on the government to do the needful to bring down prices of foodstuff and other essential items by putting in place strategies to support local production through revitalization of industries and more robust soft loans for Nigerians interested in farming and other legitimate business. 

“NEC calls on government at all levels to address the deplorable condition of roads in some parts of the country by fixing the bad roads and opening up new roads to network the communities across the country. 

“NEC calls on the government and other stakeholders in technological education to as a matter of urgency ensure the compliance with the provisions of the 2019 amended Polytechnic Act in all institutions for the purposes of uniformity in quality and standards. 

“NEC calls on the federal government to settle the 10 months arrears of the national minimum wage in Federal Polytechnics, to avoid further devaluation of the money, and that all State governments yet to implement the minimum wages as well non-payment of arrears should without further delay. 

“NEC calls on the state governments to desist from using any tactics to avert or undermine the financial autonomy of the local government.”