ABEOKUTA – Lecturers of Ogun State-owned Polytechnic, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta have threatened to embark on industrial action if the state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun failed to accede to their demands.
This is just as workers in the state under the organized about have embarked on industrial strike since Tuesday over 21 months unremitted salary deductions, unremitted pension deductions among others.
The lecturers under the umbrella of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), MAPOLY chapter in a communique issued at the end of its emergency Congress on Tuesday said their position became imperative following the persistent refusal of the state government to resolve lingering crisis affecting the Polytechnic and its staff.
In the communique jointly signed by ASUP chairman and Secretary, Comrade Babatunde Osifalujo and Tomisi Adegunle, said the quality of learning in the institution has dwindled down due to non-existence power supply and lack of materials and equipment for practicals in various laboratories.
According to the union, the failure of the government to implement the Federal Polytechnic Act, 2019 has denied the Polytechnic’s accreditation of some courses by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
The Union equally called on Governor Abiodun to wake up to his responsibility, stressing that 100% reliance of internally generated revenue (IGR) as the only source for the monthly salaries can no longer sustain the institution.
They maintained that, if their 55 months accumulated pension deductions from staff salaries accompanied with its counterpart funding by the Polytechnic is not remitted to the respective Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), withing 21days, and payment of 27months outstanding check-off dues deductions is not paid to the union, the Union shall not hesitate to declare industrial dispute.
“The dwindling quality of education provided to our student population as a result of almost non-existence of power supply and materials for practicals in the various laboratories Failure of the government and Management to respond to the NBTE normative document sent to the government through the Management of the institution. The continuing reluctance of the government to domesticate the Federal Polytechnic Act, 2019.
“The sustenance of the Polytechnic solely on internally generated revenue. The failure of the government to announce a substantive Rector for the institution. The persistent neglect of Ogun State government and the Management of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic to the plight of staff welfare.
“Consequent to an exhaustive deliberation on the foregoing issues, the Congress resolved and demand: The improvement of electricity supply in the Polytechnic, as the non-availability of power supply has become inimical to lecture deliveries and depriving students from 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 (please see the attached for emphasis).
“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 up to its responsibilities as the owner and employer of labour 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 in lieu of MAPOLY’s statutory allocations for several months had further impoverish 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 in accordance with 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 members of staff.
“Implementation of all back-log 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 deductions to the union.
“In light of the various circumstances enumerated above, the Union hereby give 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.”
