The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) has declared a nationwide strike from April 6, 2021 over alleged ‘’culture of neglect by government on issues affecting the technological education sub sector.’’

ASUP President, Anderson U Ezeibe, told reporters at the end of the 99th meeting of the National Executive Council of the union at Hassan Usman Polytechnic, Katsina the industrial action was informed by six key factors affecting polytechnic education.

He stated government has consistently failed to address them over the years.

The issues, according to him, include non- implementation of ASUP/FG agreement of 2010, non-payment of salaries and arrears of the new minimum wage in some state-owned Polytechnics, among others.

While also admitting a meeting with the Federal Government has been held in October 2020 on some of the pending issues, the union however insisted the outcome of the meeting was a write off as government failed to implement the resolutions reached

The union further listed 10 conditions under which the proposed April 6 industrial action may be called off to include: Implementation of the NEEDS Assessment report of 2014, reconstitution of the Governing Councils of Polytechnics, release of Promotional areas in federal Polytechnics, among others.

We have a government that is no longer threatened by strikes and other industrial actions. Wage workers need to be creative in the way they make their demands. Strikes don't seem to be effective. In many cases, they can even be counterproductive. Maybe they should learn from the youths and start protesting and occupying government offices. Instead of this union to strike and stay at home, they could organise a football tournament or a one-month carnival in front of the National Assembly building. That would be more impactful and controversial. Controversy sells! If they organise a carnival and do it successfully for a week with good publicity, the government cannot ignore them. The interesting part is that since they'd be having fun in their sport or carnival protest, no sane government can afford to let that idea be replicated. Collective bargaining would be enhanced through the threats of protest carnivals, road shows, pageantry etc. With the people such shows would attract, the striking workers can even monetize them and further embarass the government by making money in front of their offices, and that would be a clear statement. At worst, they can cook food and sell in front of Aso Rock. The signposts would contain their demands, and they would certainly attract lots of people to buy their cheap food. It will all be part of the protest.