Ado Ekiti Poly lifts suspension on unions

The Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, has lifted the suspension on all unions activities.

The council had on February 6 ordered the indefinite suspension of all trade unions and students union activities on campus following protracted strike by the Non-Academic Staff Union, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics.

The unions had been on strike over some unpaid allowances and other issues bordering on welfare of members.

This forced the authorities of the institution, on January 20, to shut the institution indefinitely, leading to a mass protest by students.

The Chairman of the Council, Sir. Victor Ebomoyi, announced the decision to lift the suspension, following the 95th statutory meeting held last Wednesday.

According to a statement by the Deputy Registrar, Information, Mr. Ade Adeyemi-Adejolu, in Ado Ekiti on Monday, the decision was in obedience to the intervention of the Minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau.

The Council also directed that its earlier order freezing the unions’ accounts be retracted.

“Sir. Ebomoyi said the Council’s decision to reinstate unions’ activities was hinged on the minister’s directive in expectation that it will engender the return of peace and normalcy for full academic activities in the institution.

“He advised the leadership of the Unions to, in the spirit of give and take, heed the minister’s directive to keep the school in session before, during and after the coming general elections, while negotiation continues on whatever grey areas that were yet to be addressed,” the statement added.

The crisis rocking the Polytechnics began on September 10, 2014 with the unions demanding probe of the financial records of the institution and accusing the rector of high handedness.