Michael Babatunde
The rector of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Dr. Samson Odedina has disclosed the institution’s readiness to resume academic activities.
This is coming just as the umbrella body of polytechnic lecturers, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) suspended its two month old strike on Tuesday.
While students of the institution are still contemplating if the suspended ASUP strike will take effect on their institution, the rector assured that all crisis hitherto rocking the institution have been resolved.
ASUP MAPOLY were not initially (officially) part of the national industrial action as the management declared December 12-January 7 festive holiday until January 8th when the then ASUP chairman, Kola Abiola announced that the institution is on strike via a radio programme after students had resumed from break and are asking questions.
Lecturers of the institution were before then on a partial strike action described as ‘work to rule’.
Speaking in an interview, Odedina said the lecturers have been paid their outstanding arrears, "It has been resolved because our salary has been paid up to date and we are expecting January salary and one of the arrears in 2017, one month. I had a meeting with members of the union on Friday, We are eager to resume, everyone trust me as the new rector to make things happen. The governor already promised to come and see us, we are expecting him anytime from now. All the union on campus is eager to set the ball rolling."
He however declined speaking on students resuming in lieu of the elections.
Recall that the upgrading of MAPOLY to degree awarding institution had caused rancor between the management and lecturers as well as protest in the same regard.
ASUP MAPOLY have had different showdown with the school management cum government disagreeing over the MAPOLY/ MAUSTECH transition process.
When contacted, the newly elected MAPOLY ASUP chairman, Babatunde Osifalujo told our correspondent to direct his questions to the management.
The union will hold a Congress today to address issues surrounding MAPOLY- MAUSTECH among others.