The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic (ATAP) Bauchi chapter has given the state government a seven-day ultimatum to refund deductions made from salaries and allowances of its members.

‎The ultimatum is contained in a press statement signed by Chairman of the union, Mr Bala Yakubu, and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)on Thursdayin Bauchi.

‎“The union observes with greatest dismay that the salary of a teacher who made all other professions possible, can be deducted overnight without any circular or consultation as stipulated in the civil service rules,” he said. ‎

‎Mr Yakubu said the union had resolved to reject the deduction and demands for an immediate refund of the monies deducted from the salaries of members in May, 2018.

‎“We are also calling for the immediate payment of salaries to our members who are yet to receive their May salaries.

‎“The union also demands for the full implementation of CONPCASS salary structure and lower cadre migration, before the expiry of the seven-day ultimatum, else the union will be left with no choice than to embark on industrial action.

“We wish to remind the State Head of Civil Service that there are no illegal allowances in Tatari Ali Polytechnic as the institution has a different scheme of services compared to other state ministries and agencies of government.

‎“This great Union of ours sacrifices certain percentage of our entitlement in order to complement government’s effort in ensuring that the educational sector did not collapse during the recession period,” he said

‎According to him, the union is not anticipating salary deductions, but instead, salary increment.

‎He reminded the government that polytechnics salary structure was statutory in nature, which became national policy.

‎“Every state willing to operate a state-owned Polytechnic must comply as stipulated in the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Scheme of Service/guidelines and approved by the previous administration,” he said.

‎Earlier, the state Head of Service, Malam Liman Bello had told newsmen that the state government had introduced ‘Human Resources Management Information System’ (HRMIS), to check cases of civil servants earning double salaries or allowances.

He said the system was introduced to sanitise the payroll of the state civil service.

‎According to him, the deductions indicates the effectiveness of the system that has started working in the state.

‎He said a complaints desk would be established in his office to attend to cases of civil servants with genuine complaints. (NAN)