OKOPOLY ASUP denies resumption rumour: The Federal Polytechnic Oko (OKOPOLY) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has denied rumours that it has pulled out of the ongoing national strike that has crippled activities in public polytechnics in the country.The Chairman of the branch, Uwakwe Onyeka, said the institution remained shut as the chapter and other polytechnic lecturers in the country insisted on their demand for better education system for students. But in a reaction, the Public Relations Officer of the polytechnic, Obini Onuchukwu, faulted Dr. Uwakwe’s statement, stressing that his tenure as the local chairman of ASUP expired in October last year. He said all academic activities would commence in full swing next week, especially the completion of the suspended second semester examinations, at the institutions.Onuchukwu urged students and their parents to disregard any statement issued by Uwakwe, saying he was not qualified to act in the capacity of chairman of the chapter. He said the local ASUP members had communicated the national secretariat to elect a new chairman. According to him, the election would hold soon because the election of Uwakwe’s successor was scuttled by the ongoing strike. “The decision to open the institution was taken by the Governing Council after wide consultations and supported by the highest decision-making body, the Academic Board. Beyond that, we expect some certain level of patriotism from ASUP members, having shown solidarity with the union for about one year now. Obviously, the entire system was coming to a halt and that was the reason for the pulling out of the national strike,” he said. Uwakwe had in a statement debunked the rumour of re-opening of the polytechnic and advised all members to resort to ASUP official communication channels for information relating to the union and the ongoing strike. The statement read in part: “The attention of the chapter is drawn to information going round the country that the ASUP national strike has been called off by the ASUP Federal Polytechnic, Oko chapter. This has resulted in several calls from chapter members, other chapters and the national officers. The first reaction to the purported ‘pulling out’ by the chapter was bewilderment. “This is to state that the purported ‘pulling out’ is false and does not represent the true situation. The chapter is fully on strike and advises all members to always resort to ASUP official communication channels for information relating to the union and the ongoing national strike. The chapter is informed by national office that Senate and ASUP and well-meaning Nigerians are working towards reaching President Goodluck Jonathan through the leadership of the Senate as a means to resolving the strike.” “Note that Memorandum of Understanding is unavoidable to a successful ending of any strike. The MoU shall spell out, among other things, payment of salary arrears and modalities for realising pending issues such as the amendment of the Polytechnic Act, White Paper and Needs Assessment. The chapter calls for the understanding of Management and Nigerian students but believes in the capacity of Senate and President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in resolving the protracted strike and save the polytechnic system,” he said. Prime chronicle
Posted on: Tue, 08 Jul 2014 12:58:04 +0000
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