Ekiti federal poly closed over students protest ARTICLE | JANUARY 20, 2015 - 5:52PM by Gbenga Sodeinde The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti was yesterday shut down following a massive protest by the students of the institution. The Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande, ordered the closure of the polytechnic following the protracted strike action by all labour unions. The student protest was sparked by a congress held by the polytechnics chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) on Monday in which the lecturers resolved to continue with their strike. ASUP and other unions in the polytechnic, the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and the Senior Staff Union of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) had been on strike in protest against Dr. Akandes leadership style which they said was against their interest. But the placard-carrying students who commenced their protest as early as 7.am yesterday called for an end to the strikes embarked upon by the unions, saying it was affecting them adversely. The protest was led by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS Southwest coordinator, Mr. Sunday Ashefon. The students also claimed that their school fees are outrageous and complained that the polytechnic lacked facilities like electricity, water and that their hostels and lecture rooms are in bad condition. The students alleged that the polytechnic authorities are owing the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) electricity bills to the tune of N2.5 million which had thrown the hostels into darkness. Their action forced the policemen to disperse the students with tear gas with the protesters scampering to safety. Speaking with reporters before the students were dispersed, the Vice Chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in Ekiti State, Oluwapelumi Ogunmekun, said strikes at the polytechnic had disrupted academic activities in the last one year. He accused the management and union of playing games with the destiny of the students and expressed anger that lecturers at their Monday meeting voted in favour of continuation of their strike. Ogunmekun further alleged that the Student Union Government (SUG) of the polytechnic had been compromised by the management hence the invitation to NANS to fight on behalf of the students. But the polytechnic SUG president, Oladapo Ajibola, denied being compromised by the management saying he was also part of the protest to ensure the resolution of industrial action embarked upon by the unions. He explained that the students had been on the campus since January 4 without any academic activity going on saying the student union would h,d another meeting with the management to find a way out of the crisis. The Deputy Rector (Academics), Afolabi Bamidele, explained that the management is working hard to resolve the crisis rocking the polytechnic and a headway would soon be achieved. He disclosed that the management had met with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) officials in Abuja in a bid to resolve the crisis but argued that the students had to leave the school for all issues to be resolved. Bamidele said, We are having a headway with the unions but one of the unions had a congress on Monday and voted that the strike should continue and we now feel that the students should go home so that they wont be staying in the school doing nothing. In a press statement issued later in the day by the Principal Assistant Registrar (Information), the management ordered all students to leave their halls of residence latest by noon on Monday. It reads: Arising from the on-going industrial action by the Trade Unions of the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti, the Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande, on behalf of the Academic Board of Studies has declared, with immediate effect, a mid-semester break for its full time programme. Consequently, all full time students have been directed to return home and await further instructions. All residential students are therefore advised in their own interests to vacate the Polytechnic Campus latest by 12noon, today, Tuesday, 20th January #MARIS
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 07:18:59 +0000
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