Workers of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo in Ondo state, on Thursday asked Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to sack the Rector of the institution, Engr. Idowu Ologunagba and the Chief Security Officer, Mr. Amos Ifedayo over incompetence and dereliction of duty.
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, SSANIP, and the Non – Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, NASU in a peaceful protest at the school gate demanded that a panel of enquiry should be set up to investigate the activities of the Rector and the CSO.
But, the School mamanagement led by the Rector has announced the suspension of all union activities in the institution till further notice.
The workers who converged as early as 7am chanting solidarity songs, had placards with various inscriptions such as, “We are saying no to Ologunagba; No more Ologunagba and Amos; Akeredolu, save RUGIPO from total collapse; Ologunagba must go now; Enough of mal –administration.
The institution’s ASUP Chairman, Comrade Rafiu Ijawoye; Acting Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, Comrade Chris Olowolade and the Chairman of the Non – Academic staff Union of Polytechnics, NASU, Comrade Adebayo Obayoriade accused the Rector and the CSO of mismanaging N2. 5million released to the Polytechnic by the State government for mobilization of security.
The Union leaders noted that the duo of the Rector and the CSO must give account of the security fund, adding that the institution has no security presence.
The Union demanded the state government to set up a panel of enquiry to uncover the remote and immediate cause of the students protest last Monday where school property worth millions of naira were destroyed.
“We have directed our members to withdraw academic activities till further notice. We will not resume academic activities Until the Rector and the Chief Security officer,CSO, of the institution are sacked
“As we are speaking, the state government is still owing us four months salary for 2016 and another three months salary for 2017 aside other allowances
“The institution is bewildered with mal-administration, we have a man who is not capable of running the affairs of the polytechnic at the helm of leadership. We demand his immediate sack” the Union leaders said.
However, the School management said it has suspended all union activities to allow for thorough investigation on the violence protest of the student last Monday.
The school management in a Press Release signed by the Registrar, A. J Abimbola said, “The management at its meeting held today 25th January, 2018 considered the recent negative activities of some group who claimed to represent the Workers’ Union ( ASUP, SSANIP and NASUP) of the Polytechnic and decided to suspend forthwith all union activities to make room for thorough investigation of the recent students crisis in the institution”.
The Ondo state government had approved the closure of the institution indefinitely following a violent protest of the students over the School’s policy of no school fees, no examination.
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