The Lagos State Polytechnic staff unions which comprises of
Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of
Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) have said
they don’t have any issues with the Lagos State Government or the person of the
amiable Governor- Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on the CONTISS 15 arrears.
In a released signed by the General Secretary of ASUP LASPOTECH
chapter Mr. Olayinka Uthman, the unions stated that they are fighting for a
legitimate reason as enshrined in the National Board For Technical Education (NBTE)
letter referenced C/TEB.608/VOL.1/287.
According to the staff unions Lagos State Government has
made provision for the arrears vide SAE/HED/S.7/Vol.T/53, so the government does
not owe LASPOTECH Staff.
“There is availability of ‘spendable’ funds to the tune of
N249,000,000 (two hundred and forty nine million naira) accrued from the
Polytechnic IGR and excess monthly subventions from LASG to offset part of the
arrears. This information is contained in the report of the Lagos State House
of Assembly Committee on Education’s fact finding committee that was signed by
the LASPOTECH Management and Representatives of the Unions on 27th July, 2017,”
“The Unions never for once requested for 87 Months arrears
at a go, it was just the SAE/rector’s unpopular propaganda. The Unions only
requested for 12 Months, while the remaining should be prorated for years in
line with the NBTE’s caveat,” the Unions stated.
They however alleged that the Special Adviser on Education
to Governor Ambode, Mr. Obafela Bank-Olemoh in connivance with the Rector of
the institution is misinforming His Excellency- Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for his
personal gain
They said that; “It is also on tape that Obafela Bank-Olemoh
incited the students against staff and categorically stated that his children
are not in LASPOTECH, so the students can afford to stay at home as much as the
strike continues. The rector fix deposited N1.788B as at February 2017 without
approval, including pensioner’s 15 months allowances, Federal Government
Scholarship funds, etc, while five of the pensioners are dead owing to paucity
of funds to attract quality medical attention.”
The Unions said they are worried about the lack of teaching
facilities, consumables, laboratory equipment/apparatus, wastages on
e-solutions, stating that they have tried all means to see the Governor so that
he can hear the true position of things in the polytechnic, but the Special
Adviser blocked all our efforts.
“As the case stands today, we are very delighted that the
case is in the Industrial court. On our part, we are submitting ourselves to
the rule of law and subsequent adjudication. We therefore appeal to Obafela
Bank-Olemoh and Oluyinka Samuel Sogunro not to attempt giving an order they
could not get through court. What they failed to achieve through the court
can't be achieved through propaganda and autocracy. Any attempt to stand on the
way of justice shall be met with resistance. Please, note that the strike
remains total & indefinite,” the unions stated.
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