The National Industrial Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State Capital today reinstated 15 out of the 32 sacked workers of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) in the state.
The court also ordered the management to immediately pay all the 15 reinstated workers their outstanding salaries and allowances which have been withheld since they were relieved of their jobs in January 2013.
DailyPost recalls that in the said sacked letters given to the 32 workers which included 10 academics and 22 non-teaching staff, it was stated that they were relieved due to reorganization at the State owned Polytechnic.
The reinstated staff include, Abodunrin Moses, Adeoni Olusegun, Agbi Nelson, Arijeniwa Adedotun, Ayodeji Akinsanmi, Mrs. V.O Ayodele, S.B Bolaji, Ekundayo Gbenga and A.M Elegbede
Others were, Olubamiji Kumuyi, Ogunbode Benson, T.L Olemija, Olugbamila Omotayo, Omotola cAlaba Olumayowa and S.O Oniyelu.
The Presiding Judge, Justice, Ndidi Ubaka admitted that the workers were sacked by the polytechnic authorities on a wrong note, saying the management failed to justify the reasons the workers were sacked.
Ubaka noted that the court returned 15 of the embattled workers just because they were able to certify the court with the documents they tendered that they were Senior staff of the Polytechnic.
The judge, however said the court could not return the 17 others, due to the fact that they were unable to prove to the court with their document whether or not they were senior staff.
He concluded that all those who were not reinstated are junior staff and they could not give satisfactory evidences to proof their cases.
Those affected include, A.E Adebayo, Aderigbe Olamide Olajope, Ajanaku James Akinyemi, Akinrolabu Dare Raphael, Akinyemi Oluwafemi Taiwo Alonge Titus, Arealepo Michael Oluwasola.
Other were, Arolowo Clement Jimoh, A. Bello, O.M Fagbayimu, T.M Ogunleye, A.O Olayode, J.A Oluyede, Omoge Edward Taiwo, Omole Olayinka Idowu, J.K Omole and Shoyege Ayodeji Olayinka.
Speaking with reporters shortly after the ruling, the former Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) Chairman of the institution, Olubamiji Kumuyi said they received the judgement with mixed feeling, insisting that all of them were senior staff.
He noted that the court used divide and rule in its ruling, by using the first letter of their appointment in deciding the case.
Comments