Abia Poly Reopens as Non-Teaching Staff Suspend 4 Weeks Strike

The Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, has reopened as members of the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) in the state owned institution, suspended their four weeks old industrial action after a congress of the union held in the school premises.

Speaking to newsmen after the union’s congress, the Chairman of the Union, Mr. Kalu Nwankwo, confirmed the decision to suspend the industrial action.

He said, “We decided to suspend the industrial action in order to allow the management to implement the agreement that we reached with them”.

Also, the Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi, thanked the workers for their decision to return to work.

According to him, “we appreciate the decision of the workers to put the students and the state first. As a government we will ensure that the agreement reached between the union and the management of the institution is fully respected and implemented.”

Calling for patience and support from the workers, he said, “The major challenge remains that the school’s current monthly wage bill of about N170m cannot be sustained by the internally generated revenue profile of the institution. The workers and management need to work together to evolve a sustainable solution that will ensure that the institution truly becomes autonomous as envisaged by the law setting it up.”

The Commissioner met with some workers and union leaders who resumed work on Monday and expressed the optimism that other unions in the school who are yet to hold congresses will do so in the coming days to ensure full resumption of academic activities.