Tension in Oko Poly as ASUP Begins Fresh Strike

There was a palpable tension in Federal
Polytechnic, Oko, Friday in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, as Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) begins strike.

The school was completely deserted when Daily Times visited the institution
except students writing their computer based
Post UTME.

Our investigation revealed that lecturer's
offices were under lock and key while some
students and non academic staff union members of the polytechnic were hired by the school management to supervise the fresh students, popularly called jambites.

Students were seen loitering outside the
polytechnic environment as they were barred
from entering the school compound by the
security personnel due to the ongoing Post
UTME exam going on there.

Recall that the Academic Staff Union of
Polytechnics in her 75th National Executive
Council Meeting held at Federal Polytechnic,
Bida, Niger State had threatened to resume the suspended strike with effect from Friday for what they described as continued insincerity of government in honouring the agreement reached with the union.

In a communiqué signed by the National
Publicity Secretary of the Union, Chirman
Clement Selchum the union resolved that
government should without delay address all
the outstanding issues including the NEEDS
assessment of the polytechnic and the
corresponding funding, constitution of the
governing council of the remaining Federal
Polytechnics, CONTSS 15 migration of the lower cadres, the removal of disparity between HND and degree certificates, establishment of the
National Polytechnic Commission (NPC) and
release of the whitepaper of the visitation
panels to polytechnics.

When Daily Times contacted the ASUP chairman
of the institution Dr Onyeka Uwakwe for
comments, he noted that ASUP chapter of
Federal Polytechnic, Oko unanimously
identified with the position of the National
Executive Council as contained in the
communique issued by the national body.

He therefore urged the Federal Government to
fulfil agreements reached with the union
before the suspension of national strike on
July 17, 2013.

Dr Uwakwe later made available the communiqué of his chapter dated October 2nd, 2013 which was signed by himself and the General Secretary of the union Lady (Barr.) Ogugua Ochuba.

On the appointment of rectors and provosts
from within polytechnic and monotechnics
sector in Nigeria which is one of the issues
raised by the NEC, the Congress reaffirmed the position of NEC on the need to appoint the Rectors from within the polytechnic system, saying that it is irreversible.

According to the release: "Congress argued
that people who have spent all their time
serving the polytechnic system should be
allowed to aspire to the highest office in the system.

In this regard, congress unanimously
agreed to reject the appointment of any rector outside the polytechnic system.

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Godwin
Onu was unable to reached for comments as at
the time of filling this report.