The Academic  Staff Union of Polytechnics on Thursday threatened to embark on strike  on account of the challenges they are facing with the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System.

President of ASUP, Anderson Ezeobe, said that the 15-day ultimatum issued by the union  remained valid.

This is coming three days after the senior staff of Nigerian polytechnics issued a 21-day ultimatum to embark on an indefinite strike if the Federal Government failed to address lingering issues associated with the IPPIS.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, Ezeobe said the National Executive Council of the union has directed various chapters to hold congresses with a view to taking drastic decisions on the way forward on the issue.

Ezeobe accused the government of  insincerity, noting that it has failed to address the union’s grievances.

UGAMATV had earlier reported that ASUU had rejected IPPIS, insisting that it violates university autonomy and proposed the UTAS as an alternative.

He said, “We can’t be giving an ultimatum and be repeating an ultimatum; we decided to go back on our congress to take a referendum because we have to educate our congress.

 “We understand that the pandemic has altered a lot of dynamics and so with the feedback we get from our members, we can come back and say, we are shutting down or giving a particular date. So we are waiting for directives that will come from our congress.”

On the proposed resumption of schools, the ASUP leader said the union would hold the government responsible “if anything happens to our members and the polytechnic community.”

He said there was nothing on the ground regarding Nigeria Centre for Disease Control protocols for school resumption.

He said, “It is not about filling questionnaire, any institution that claims that it is ready, it is only interested in opening to generate funds from students fees; none is ready, and if you’re ready, show us what you have on the ground.”