he Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Dr Shu’aibu Musa, has stated that the federal government and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) have agreed to shift grounds over the lingering industrial action embarked upon by the union. This he made known at the end of a meeting of the governing council of the institution in Bauchi.

He said the council of heads of polytechnics met with the national leadership of ASUP in Okoh in Anambra State, “and we agreed to shift ground if the federal government will shift ground and the government has also said that it is ready to shift ground”.

Dr Musa added: “The strike has affected
us badly. Federal polytechnics in Nigeria
have lost one session. Now, we don’t know what to with the 2013/2014 academic session, especially with the 2014/201 session around the corner”.
Chairman of the institution’s Governing
Council, Alhaji Adamu Ahmed Abdulkadir, said the council of chairmen of governing councils is working hard to resolve the problem before the end of this month.

Alhaji Adamu said ASUP has agreed that if the federal government can address the critical issues which include payment of about 20.4 billion arrears by 50 per cent and tackle the other issues in July, the strike will be called off.