The Management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta on Thursday
locked out members of the National Executive of the Academic Staff Union
of Polytechnics, ASUP, in Nigeria from the school premises.
This followed the declaration of indefinite strike action by the Academic Staff Union of the institution.
The National Executive Council of ASUP which scheduled its press
conference in the school on the “Deplorable condition of polytechnic
education in Nigeria” had to hold the conference at the school gate.
Speaking to reporters, the Union’s zonal coordinator, Olawale
Omobaorun said, “They say we are not going to enter, and we are trying
to tow the line of peace, we will stay at the gate and address the
press.”
He alleged that the state governor was after the Chairman of the MAPOLY Chapter of ASUP, Comrade Kola Abiola.
He added, “The government of the state is after our chairman and that is why you are not seeing the chairman here today.
“Let the world know that the life of Com. Kola Abiola is in threat.
If anything happens we will be ready to face the government.”
Also speaking, the ASUP President, Malam Usman Dutse lamented the sorry state of polytechnic education all over the country.
The statement, which was read by the Vice President, Timothy
Ogunseye, said, “If well harnessed will boost Nigeria’s technological
know-how, improve ICT, create millions of employment opportunities and
raise the level of both theoretical and practical technological
literacy.
The Union said governments at all levels had keyed to annihilation of
the Polytechnic sector, which “feeds and caters for millions of youths
and families.
It cited some issues facing the sector, which include, “Sorry state
of State-owned institutions; victimization of Union officers; withdrawal
of allowances; among others.
“Polytechnics and monotechnics belonging to state governments have continued to wallow in deplorable conditions.
“Chapter chairmen in various polytechnics in the country have been
sacked in glaring cases of victimization while there have been no
intervention.”
The Union also decried what it called “Infractions in the appointment of Rectors”, citing MAPOLY as an example.
It said MAPOLY can “boast of about 30 chief lecturers with fifty seven Ph.D holders”