Mapoly: Management, ASUP, NASU disagree on strike action

…as NASU, SSANI resume strike

…ASUP backs out
…Mgt. keeps mum

Kehinde Ogunyale

Just after the conclusion of the ‘prolonged’ 2017/2018 academic session and the recommencement of a new semester, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic has been faced with new phase of crisis which in turn had led to industrial action taken by some Union-bodies in the institution.

In a recent development, the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institution (NASU) and Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) MAPOLY branch has embarked on indefinite strike over non payment of salaries and allowances.

The duo staged a protest in the school, locked down the main entrance to prevent access into the school, armed themselves with placards carrying various inscriptions like :"AMOSUN!!! WHERE IS OUR PENSION, DEDUCTION TOTALLING N100, 000,000"; "AMOSUN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH"; "AMOSUN PAY OUR ENTITLEMENT, OUR MEMBERS ARE DYING"; among others.

The decision to embark on strike was contained in a communique co-signed by the chairmen of NASU and SSANIP, Messrs. Kola Sopade and Olawunmi Musbau respectively claiming that they had issued an ultimatum to the management to pay outstanding salaries and allowances of their members.

The communique reads : "The union held a meeting with the management last week Thursday 18th April, 2019. The outcome of the meeting was given to the congress.

"At the end of the meeting, the union members resolved that having stayed off action on the notice given to the management, the management/Government should pay our outstanding 4 months’ salary. Our contributory pension should be paid; Our Cooperative dues should be paid without delay; and that our Union dues should be paid.

"The congress also expressed concerns over the incessant loss of lives of our members due to their inability to afford hospital bills occasioned by non-payment of salaries which again has caused the death of another staff (Late Mr. Ogunsola) on Wednesday 24th, 2019.

"After Extensive deliberation, congress decided to embark on indefinite strike with effect from Friday 26th April, 2019."

Meanwhile, when the Academic Staff Union Mapoly Chapter Chairman, Babatunde Osifalujo, was contacted he claimed that the lecturers were not part of the strike as they were still maintaining the academic session.

On getting to the school, students who were prepared to commence lectures, were denied access into the school. This was basis on the belief that the securities and gatemen were part of the union and thus had joined them in the strike.

However, the management is yet to speak on the ongoing strike and protest that was staged. At the time of filling this report, no communique has been released by the authorities or government and this had led to various questioning by the concerned students, protesters, staffs and guidanians.

Hopes are still high, as there is an assumption that all issues would be settled at the assumption of the governor-elect in the state, Dapo Abiodun.