By IBRAHIM BELLO

Birnin Kebbi- Academic staff of Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Kebbi, suspended their services on Monday for two weeks.

They took the decision at the end of the State Executive Council meeting of the Kebbi branch of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).

Chairman of the branch, Dr Zubairu Usman-Bashar, said “government is fully aware of the non-release of approved revitalisation fund of N15 billion to polytechnics 11 months after approval was given by President. Muhammadu Buhari.

“Other demands include the non-release of arrears of the new minimum wage, especially the 10 months arrears to polytechnics.

“There is the non-compliance with approved retirement age, non-deployment of approved salary structures, poor governance structure and issues of standards, particularly in state-owned polytechnics,’’ he said.

Usman-Bashar stressed that the decision to suspend academic activities was in line with directives of the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUP.

He appealed to members of the public to prevail on government to do the needful within the two weeks to avoid an indefinite strike by the union.

The chairman urged parents and students to exercise patience as the strike remained the only viable option the union had to press for the fulfilment of agreements reached with the Federal Government.

The union gave the Federal Government a one-month ultimatum on April 1 to address its demands, failing which it would direct a warning strike.

“Following exhaustive deliberations the union’s NEC resolved that members should withdraw their services in a two-week warning strike with effect from May 16,’’ Usman-Bashar said. (NAN)