Poly workers defy resumption order as management threatens sack

Workers of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, on Monday refused to suspend the strike embarked upon four weeks ago.

The polytechnic’s authority on Friday threatened to sack workers who failed to resume work on February 9.

Yet, only a few workers came to work on Monday apparently to avoid being disengaged as threatened by the governing council of the institution.

Many offices were still under lock and key, while the few workers that reported for duty were only seen gathering in groups to discuss the development.

Armed police officers were also seen keeping vigil at the main gate of the institution to maintain law and order.

The Rector of the Polytechnic, Theresa Akande, and other top management staff were not around for comment.

However, Adeyemi Adejolu, the Deputy Registrar, Information and Protocol, confirmed that few of the striking staff resumed for duty.

He urged others, who had not complied with the resumption order to do because it was a directive from the Governing Council of the Institution.

Meanwhile, the organised unions in the Polytechnic had urged their members to discountenance the directive to suspend the strike.

The NASU Chairman of the Polytechnic, Adekunle Adeniyi, described as empty threat plans to sack any erring staff and urged his members not to bow to such antics.

He said that the management had no right to proscribe the trade and students’ unions in the institution.

In a statement by the Governing Council Chairman, Victor Ebomoyi, on Friday suspended all trade and students unionism and directed striking workers to resume work immediately or face the consequences.

The staff of the institution under the auspices of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, and Non-Academic Staff Union, was protesting against alleged maladministration and corruption.

(NAN)