The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic ASUP, Federal Polytechnic Ede chapter stormed the School campus on Friday 6th of September to protest.
Our Correspondent at Ede gathered that the union was angry over the failure of the institution’s management to investigate alleged mistreat of a staff by the president of the student union of the institution,Rufai Opeyemi Lukman SIWES.
Withinnigeria Correspondent, Adejayan Gbenga Gsong gathered that the ASUP members at its emergency congress on the 2nd of September took a resolution that Since there have not been any punishment or report from the disciplinary committee on the alleged stoic behaviour of the SU President, Rufai Opeyemi Lukman SIWES to one of its members Arch. Adeoye, the Union has resolved to withdraw her services pending appropriate measure is meted out against him.
Withinnigeria learnt that there are indications that the Management after a board meeting on Friday proscribed ASUP in the School and also postponed its Second Semester exam which was slated for Monday 9th September to 11th of Same month.
In lieu of this, the Academic Staff Union (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun, says it will embark on strike over the proscription of the union activities by the school management.
The ASUP Chairman, Mr Masopa Nurudeen, who said this at a press conference after the union congress on Saturday in Ede, said the union would withdraw its services by midnight of Sept. 10.Nurudeen said the union was angry over the failure of the institution’s management to investigate alleged mistreat of a staff by the president of the student union of the institution.
“The President of the student union deflated the tyres of one of our staff because he said the car disrupted his way.
“As a union, we wrote a letter to the management to investigate the matter and that the matter should be transfer to the statutory committee of the institution.
“But we did not get a response from the management and after our congress we decided that we are withdrawing our services pending the time appropriate action will be taken on the matter. “But surprisingly, because of our resolution, the school management announced the proscription of our activities, but that cannot stand,” he said.
“We are passing vote of no confidence on the rector for lack of administrative requisite acumen. His administration is characterised with high handedness, favouritism and nepotism”, the ASUP Chairman said.
Reacting to the allegation, the rector of the institution, Dr John Adekolawole, said the union was not proscribed but rather its recognition by the school management was only withdrawn.
The Rector, Dr. Adekolawole said the matter ASUP was fighting for was a trivial matter which did not warrant union action.
The rector said the management decided to withdraw the union recognition because of its plan to disrupt the school examination that was to commence on Sept. 9.“No responsible leadership will allow any group of persons to do anything that is inimical to the peace of the institution.
“We have not proscribed the union but rather we only withdrew their recognition because their activities are becoming inimical to the peace of the institution”, the rector said.
Adekolawole said the matter of the student leader raised by the union had been referred to Student’s Disciplinary Committee for appropriate action.
He said management was awaiting the report of the committee for appropriate action.
The rector also denied the allegation of maladministration and financial impropriety, saying he had been running the institution with utmost transparency.
Also reacting to the allegation, SU President, Rufai Opeyemi lukman disclosed to LEGIT that the ASUP Chairman, have been threatening the School management, most especially the rector. The Union said if they don’t see the outcome of the panel they won’t start examination on monday despite the fact that I surrendered myself.
‘They even emphasised that if the outcome doesn’t favour them they won’t still start exam”.
The SU President further disclosed that ‘a member of ASUP parked in front of the Union Building where there was ‘No parking inscription’ and there have always been accident and to protect the lives of our dear Students we have informed all not to park there”.
“ASUP are not entitled to be forcing or subjecting the rector or management on what to do on issues, I have faced many committee constituted by the management and the output was said not to be favourable to them, which I see as high level of injustice and act of witch hunting me”.
Lastly he said that “ I will only indulge the students to keep calm and follow the tenet of school motto knowledge, skill and character as I will be facing the students disciplinary committee SDC on Monday and also prepared for the coming exam.
“As we all expected that leader will face alot of test and challenges because of his follower and the students should not engage in any form of assault to staff, students and others.As we will be waiting patiently for the good outcome of the panel. Assuring Nigerian students that we will contribute our quota to minimize the abnormalities repose to us by some of the lecturers in all section within the polytechnic community, he concluded.