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.