The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, has called off the strike action which it commenced on April 29.

The decision was reached by the National Executive Council, NEC, of ASUP after an appraisal of the progress made by the government towards meeting their demands.

Before this time, talks had existed among the union and the National Assembly Joint Committee on Education, the minister of education, Ruqayyatu Rufa’i and her labour and productivity counterpart, Emeka Wogu.

During one of such meetings, on July 9, the committee and ministers had begged the union to reconsider its decision and call off the strike action, promising that all pending issues would be resolved.

ASUP president, Chibuzor Asumogba, hinted on Monday that today’s NEC meeting would decide the next line of action, noting that the union had received approval for a consolidated salary structure.

“We have received a green light on the CONTISS 15 (Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Structure) and we have promises here and there on other demands. The committee on education is proactive in addressing our demands,” he said.

Asumogba added: “The committee is highly placed and with its members’ integrity, we have no doubt that our demands will be addressed.”

The union had cited the failure of the federal and state governments to implement agreements on issues affecting polytechnic education as the reason behind its strike action.

ASUP wants a full implementation of the Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Structure and a stop to discrimination against holders of the Higher National Diploma.

The body is also protesting the absence of a National Polytechnics Commission and the deplorable condition of many polytechnics in the country.