Lecturers at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) Abeokuta have suspended their proposed strike slated for this week, following the readiness of the Ogun State Government to appoint a substantive Rector for the polytechnic, review and harmonize laws establishing its various tertiary institutions and constitute members of Governing Councils for them on or before 5th of August, 2022
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics at the institution had on the 30th of June, 2022 issued a 21-day Ultimatum to the State Government to appoint a substantive Rector, constitute Governing Councils for its tertiary institutions amongst other demands
But Chairman of the institution's branch of ASUP, Comrade Babatunde Osifalujo who announced the suspension of the proposed industrial action in a communique made available to Edu-biznews on Friday, explained that the decision was taken at a tripartite meeting held at the instance of the State Commissioner for Education,Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu with both the management of the polytechnic and the union's leadership
The ASUP Chairman added that the review of the laws being done by the State Ministry of Justice would take care of the Polytechnic Act (2019) as well as address all issues raised by the union
ASUP in the communique issued at the end of its emergency congress held on the 18th of July, 2022 also reached an agreement with government on the appointment of a substantive Rector for MAPOLY and other affected tertiary institutions which must be done on or before 5th of August
The congress also agreed that the management of MAPOLY and all the unions on the campus should work together, brainstorm and come up with a strategic plan to resolve all challenges confronting the institution
Other demands of the union include increased funding of MAPOLY by the State Government and immediate release of bail out/ grant for the forthcoming accreditation exercise by the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE) as well as payment of salaries to staff whom according to the ASUP were last paid in May
The lecturers are also demanding for Commencement of payment of the approved minimum wage in accordance with NBTE template as from next academic session and remittance of the 55 months accumulated deductions from salaries of workers as well as payment of the counter part funding by the polytechnic to the respective Pension Fund Administrators for each of the members of staff
ASUP however threatened to reactivate its proposed strike, if the State Government fails to honour the agreement reached with the union
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