Fawas Adebisi
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta has threatened to embark on industrial action following poor education given to students among other issues, and, therefore, seeks government intervention.
The Union disclosed this in a congress held on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in a communique signed by the union’s chairman and general Secretary, Babatunde Osifalujo and Tomisi Adegunle respectively.
In the communique addressed to Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Union expressed its dissatisfaction with the state of education of the students stating how the lack of power supply and material for practical use in different laboratories contributed to this.
The Union stated how the failure of the government to implement the Federal Polytechnic Act affected the accreditation of some courses by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE, and also the failure of the polytechnic in having a substantive Rector.
Similarly, the Union accused the government of not catering to the welfare of staff stating how the polytechnic has been sustaining only on internally generated revenue.
“Consequent to an exhaustive deliberation on the foregoing issues, the Congress resolved and demanded:
“The improvement of electricity supply in the Polytechnic, as the non-availability of power supply has become inimical to lecture deliveries and depriving students of having hands-on practicals in various laboratories, studios, and workshops.
“The Ogun State Government should urgently domesticate and implement the Federal Polytechnic (Amendment) Act, 2019 in Moshood Abiola Polytechnic as specified by NBTE as a condition for the much-awaited accreditation and as a standard of measure in running an efficient Polytechnic in Nigeria.
“The practice of 100% reliance on internally generated revenue (IGR) as the only source of monthly wages/salaries payments in the Polytechnic should be truncated herewith as the Union calls on the government of Ogun State to rise to its responsibilities as the owner and employer of labor in the Polytechnic.
“Moshood Abiola Polytechnic is an Ogun State Government-owned institution and should not be run like a private entity, as such the practice of the government advancing financial aid to the Polytechnic for salary payment in time of need/IGR insufficiency and later claim it as a loan even with interest charges to the institution or instead of MAPOLY’s statutory allocations for several months had further impoverished the Polytechnic and it is not acceptable to us.
“Appointment of substantive Rector and convocation of a progressive Governing Council which we have been denied and negatively impacting on the smooth running of the Polytechnic since 2018. Again, this will redress the incessant delay in salary approval and payment.
“Implementation and payment of minimum wages for workers in the Polytechnic by the NBTE template, including arrears, as already being enjoyed by our counterparts in the Ogun State civil service effective from October 2021.
“Remittance of 55 months accumulated pension deductions from staff salaries accompanied with its counterpart funding by the Polytechnic to the respective Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) for each member of staff.
“Implementation of all backlog of appointments and promotions of staff, including the conclusion of appointments for 2018 and the commencement of promotions for 2020.
“Payment of over 27 months outstanding check-off dues 2deductions to the union.
“In light of the various circumstances enumerated above, the Union hereby gives a 21 days ultimatum to the Ogun State Government and Management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic to attend to all of these issues raised, failure of which shall result in the declaration of an industrial dispute by the Union.” The communique read.
Meanwhile, getting across to the Public Relations Officer of the Polytechnic, Yemi Ajibola concerning the looming strike action, he, however, debunked It.
However, when contacted for confirmation, the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Yemi Ajibola, said that there is nothing of such, as the school has not received any communique from the union.
Ajibola said, “There’s nothing like that, I don’t have that information, there’s nothing like that, Mapoly is not striking, I have not received the communique to that effect.
“The management has not received any notice from the union, i was aware they held a Congress, and normally after the congress, a communique would be issued and sent to the management, but so far so good, as i am talking to you, no communique has been issued.”
Meanwhile, he assured students that the government would do something quickly to that, as he said he is very optimistic because this government is the one that brought us back, if not, all of us would have been at Ipokia, so I can assure you the government will do it.” He stated.
