Workers of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State, have embarked on an indefinite strike over their unpaid three months salaries.
DAILY POST reports that the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) and the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in MAPOLY had on Wednesday directed their members to stay at home from Thursday, October 5.
Students who were on campus for lectures earlier on Thursday said they returned home as there were no lecturers to attend to them.
Some of the students told our correspondent at Panseke that they may return to their parents if the workers insist on ‘no pay, no work’.
It was gathered that the different workers unions in MAPOLY had their congresses yesterday, where the indefinite strike was declared.
Some of the workers who spoke with our correspondent berated the Rector, Dr Adeoye Odedeji, other management staff and the Governing Council for failing to see to their welfare.
They said series of letters had been written to the management on the need to prioritize the welfare of staff, but all to no avail.
The workers, who pleaded anonymity, begged Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene and help in paying their July, August and September salaries.
Tomisin Adegunle, the ASUP Chairman, vowed that the striking workers would only return to work after their demands have been met.
“We want all our salaries paid, all the remuneration should be paid. Of course, we are afraid of our future. Our deductions have not been paid. Some workers are going to retire in the next few months and what are they going to go home with,” he said.
Polytechnic’s broke – PRO
Contacted, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of MAPOLY, Yemi Ajibola, confirmed to our correspondent that workers of the polytechnic commenced an industrial action on Thursday.
However, Ajibola said the striking workers have not officially informed the polytechnic of their intention to go on strike.
The PRO said the workers have access to the polytechnic’s account and they are aware that the polytechnic is broke.
“They (the workers) have access to the polytechnic’s account. They are aware there is no money. How do they want the Rector or the management or the Bursar to get money to pay salaries. We are being owed three months salaries, that’s a known fact to all of us on the campus. But the unions have access to the account of the polytechnic, they are aware that there is money. So they cannot pass vote of no confidence.”
Ajibola said the polytechnic became broke after the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) reduced the number of students that could be admitted by the institution from over 10,000 per session to less than 4,000.
“The only way out of this situation is to have access to found,” Ajibola stated, even as he appealed to the striking workers to embrace dialogue.
