There was confusion at the main entrance to the campus of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, on Monday as members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics and Non- Academic Staff Union of the institution clashed with top management officials of the institution, shutting them out of the school’s premises.
The workers had embarked on an indefinite strike action following the non-implementation of the revised edition of the 2013 scheme of service by the management of the institution.
After about four weeks of downing their tools, the management, apparently attempting to frustrate the industrial action, released a memo on March 31, ordering level 13 workers and unconfirmed staff of the institution to return to work.
When the striking staff unions heard of the management’s order, they mobilised themselves and stormed the campus to prevent the affected staff from complying with the directive.
At about 9:00am, some top management officials had arrived at the school to resume duty, but the protesting workers prevented them. This led to altercations between them as some workers started throwing sachets of pure water at the institution’s Registral, Mr. O.A. Ogunleye, and his deputy, Miss Olajide.
Ogunleye and Olajide were drenched with water as the angry workers booed them. The workers also carried placards with various inscriptions such as “Say No To Unlistening Management; “Give us our rights”, “No victimization, implement 2013 scheme of service”, “Implement new scheme of service of 2013, we are tired of 1979 green book,” among others.
Also, when the leadership of SSANIP and NASU attempted to hold a meeting on campus, the school’s management dis- allowed them, leading to another confrontation. Some workers started singing anti-management songs as others rained curses on the management team.
Few minutes later, a combined team of the operatives of State Security Service, police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps arrived at the scene and eventually brokered peace between the warring management and staff.
We won’t resume work until management meets our demands
Speaking with our correspondent, the SSANIP Chairman, Mr. Johnson Adekanola, said that the members of the union would not resume duty until the management acceded to their demands.
“We will not resume work until the management do something about the new scheme of service. Other Federal polytechnics in Nigeria make use of the new scheme of 2013. So, why should our own be different?” he wondered.
Also speaking, the acting Rector, Mr. Arthur Aja, said that the issue would be resolved.
“This is a family issue; we will resolve it very soon. We are on top of the matter,” he said.
Our correspondent gathered that due to the intervention of the security agencies, the management and the workers agreed to meet within the school premises and discuss the issue at length.
