Learning Outcomes

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand the role and significance of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) in Nigerian polytechnics.
• Explain the objectives of ASUP and its influence on polytechnic education in Nigeria.
• Identify the causes and impacts of ASUP strikes on the polytechnic system and students.

Overview

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) is a union that represents academic staff in Nigerian polytechnics. Similar to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), ASUP plays a critical role in advocating for the rights of its members and pushing for improvements in the polytechnic education system. This lesson will explore the functions of ASUP, its objectives, and the challenges that have led to strikes and protests over the years.

History of ASUP

• Founded in 1978, ASUP was created to protect the interests of academic staff working in Nigerian polytechnics. It focuses on improving working conditions, promoting academic freedom, and ensuring that polytechnics are adequately funded and equipped to provide quality technical and vocational education.
• ASUP has been at the forefront of numerous struggles to ensure that polytechnic education receives the recognition and support it deserves, especially when compared to university education.

Key Objectives of ASUP

ASUP works to promote and protect the interests of polytechnic lecturers and to ensure that polytechnics operate efficiently and effectively. Its core objectives include:

1. Advocating for Better Funding for Polytechnics:
   • ASUP seeks increased government funding to improve infrastructure, teaching equipment, and resources in polytechnics. This ensures that students receive a quality education, particularly in technical and vocational fields.
2. Improving Working Conditions:
   • ASUP fights for better salaries, allowances, and overall working conditions for its members. This includes issues related to promotions, retirement benefits, and pension schemes.
3. Promoting Academic Freedom:
   • ASUP advocates for the autonomy of polytechnic institutions in making academic decisions, free from external interference by government bodies or other authorities.
4. Parity Between Polytechnics and Universities:
   • A major point of advocacy for ASUP is achieving parity between polytechnic and university lecturers, especially in terms of salary structure and employment benefits. Polytechnics are often seen as inferior to universities, and ASUP seeks to eliminate this perception by pushing for equal recognition.
5. Opposing the Marginalization of Polytechnic Education:
   • ASUP regularly protests against policies that undermine polytechnic education, such as discrepancies in funding or the lack of attention to technical and vocational training by the government.

ASUP Strikes

Like ASUU, ASUP has used strikes as a tool to pressure the Nigerian government into meeting its demands. These strikes have significant effects on the polytechnic system, including:

1. Causes of Strikes:
   • ASUP strikes are usually caused by issues such as:
     • Inadequate funding for polytechnics.
     • Delays in salary payments and poor welfare conditions for academic staff.
     • Lack of implementation of agreements previously reached with the government.
     • Disparities in the salary structure between university and polytechnic lecturers.
2. Impact on Polytechnic Students:
   • Strikes often disrupt academic schedules, leading to prolonged semesters, delayed graduations, and increased financial and emotional burdens on students. In some cases, polytechnic students feel marginalized when their academic calendars are continuously affected by strikes.
3. Impact on Polytechnic Education:
   • The frequent strikes affect the quality of education in polytechnics. Lecturers may struggle to cover course content adequately after prolonged industrial actions, and students are left with gaps in their education.
4. Negotiations and Agreements:
   • In many instances, ASUP strikes are resolved through negotiations with the government. However, the failure to fully implement agreements often leads to recurring strikes. This back-and-forth negotiation cycle has affected the trust between ASUP and the government.

Positive Outcomes of ASUP’s Activism

Despite the challenges posed by strikes, ASUP’s activism has led to several notable improvements in the polytechnic system:

• Increased Funding for Polytechnics: After multiple negotiations, the government has committed to improving funding for polytechnics, leading to better infrastructure and facilities in some cases.
• Salary and Welfare Improvements: ASUP’s efforts have led to the adjustment of salary structures and improvements in the welfare packages for academic staff in polytechnics, though disparities remain compared to university staff.
• Recognition of Technical and Vocational Education: Through its advocacy, ASUP has helped to elevate the importance of technical and vocational education in Nigeria, pushing for more support and recognition from the government.

Challenges Facing ASUP

While ASUP has made significant strides, it continues to face several challenges:

• Inconsistent Government Policies: The failure of the government to fully implement agreements reached with ASUP remains a core issue, leading to frequent strikes.
• Public Perception: As with other unions, frequent strikes have led to some negative public perception, with students and parents often feeling frustrated by the disruptions to the academic calendar.
• Funding Disparities: Polytechnics continue to receive less funding compared to universities, making it difficult for ASUP to achieve its goals of parity between the two types of institutions.

Recent Developments

ASUP has continued to negotiate with the Nigerian government to improve the conditions of polytechnic education. In recent years, there have been strikes in response to unresolved issues, including poor funding and salary delays. However, progress has been made in certain areas, such as infrastructure improvements and the regularization of promotion processes for lecturers.

Conclusion

ASUP plays an essential role in advocating for the welfare of polytechnic lecturers and the overall improvement of polytechnic education in Nigeria. While its frequent strikes have caused disruptions, its efforts have also led to positive changes in the polytechnic system, such as better funding and working conditions for staff. Understanding ASUP’s role is crucial for students to appreciate the challenges and ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s polytechnic education.