Ondo State governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has directed the Governing Board of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo to commence the immediate enumeration of workers likely to be affected by the planned commercialisation of the institution’s Staff School.
The governor’s directive which came on the heels of the fears and concern expressed by persons who may possibly, be affected by the decision of the Governing Board, however, targets those who were originally, workers of the institution seconded to the Staff School.
The management of the institution had announced the privitization for Investors to take advantage of the opportunity.
According to the Acting Rector, Gabi Ogundahunsi, the cost of running the School is N78m yearly, while total income per year is N4m.
He said this was not sustainable, but stressed that no worker would be laid off due to the changes in the corporate structure.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo said” the Polytechnic’s Staff School is neither owned nor run by the State Government. It is a wholly private business venture by the institution.
“The salaries and other benefits of workers of the Staff School have never been the burden of the State Government since the establishment of the Staff School.
“In other words, assets and liabilities of the Staff School as well as benefits or otherwise thereon, start and end with the Governing Board which is autonomous. It is not one of the State’s public schools, for emphasis.
Ojogo said the clarification was necessary to put the records straight; especially, as the attention of the Government of Ondo State has been drawn to a network of warped media stunts that the State Government has privatised the school, stressing that the State Government has nothing to do with the issue.
Also, the Ondo APC through its spokesman, Alex Kalejaye condemned the PDP over its criticism on the privatisation of the Polytechnic Staff School.
It said”PDP’s action was a display of shameless hypocrisy”.
