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Tag: Poly

  • Poly lecturers to begin strike Monday over ‘unmet demands’

    Poly lecturers to begin strike Monday over ‘unmet demands’

    Polytechnic lecturers, under the aegis of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), have threatened to embark on a two-week warning strike as from December 2nd, 2024 over unmet demands.

    The union said it took the decision during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting yesterday in Abuja.

    The lecturers criticised the Federal Government for reneging in implementing a number of demands tabled before them.

    It said only one of the “numerous demands presented to the government” had been met.

    ASUP President Kpanja Shammah, who addressed reporters at the end of the meeting, said the 11 demands for which the government had been recalcitrant to meet, dated back to successive governments, especially that of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

    ASUP had issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and other relevant agencies to immediately review and reverse all decisions it sad were inconsistent with the provisions of the Polytechnics Act and other governance instruments in the sub-sector.

    The union had alleged impunity and disregard for clear provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act, various edicts establishing state-owned institutions, and other governance instruments.

    ASUP accused the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) of intruding into the regular functions of the Academic Boards of Polytechnics, particularly on the admission of Higher National Diploma (HND) students within the polytechnic system.

    Shammah said: “Our union’s National Executive Council (NEC) held its session to review the current status of our engagements with proprietors of public polytechnics, colleges of technology and monotechnics in the country.

    “The defining resolution of our union’s NEC was the issuance of a 15-day ultimatum to the government to address issues threatening the progress of the sector or face a withdrawal of services by our members nationwide.

    “The issues listed by our union include: Sustained reports of impunity and disrespect for clear provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act, different edicts establishing state-owned institutions, and other instruments of governance in the sector particularly as it affects appointment of principal officers in Federal and state-owned polytechnics as well as other items of governance in Polytechnics.

    “The sordid display of the Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic at Nekede (Imo State) in the appointment process of a new Rector, and the appointment of a Rector in Federal Polytechnic at Wannune (Benue State) without following due process were cited as recent examples of these breaches.

    “Non-review of the contentious and suspended document, titled: ‘Schemes of Service for Polytechnics’; non-release of the NEEDS Assessment intervention funds for 2023.

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    “Intrusion of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) into the regular functions of the Academic Boards of Polytechnics in the admission of Higher National Diploma (HND) students in the Nigerian Polytechnic System.

    “Non-capturing of the peculiar academic allowance of members for sustained payment in the planned post IPPIS era. Refusal of most state-owned polytechnics to implement the 35 per cent/25 per cent salary review for members and non-release of the arrears of same in Federal Polytechnics, among others.

    “Following these developments and a thorough review by our union’s 112th NEC meeting, the union resolved to withdraw the services of its members nationwide with effect from December 2, 2024 on a two-week definite strike action in the first instance.

    “This shall serve as a warning to the government to resolve the issues listed or be held responsible for an indefinite action going forward.

    “We, therefore, seek the understanding and support of members of the public as we are forced to yet again battle for the soul of Nigeria’s Polytechnic System in this form. We equally hope that the government will work to meet the demands of the union which is to engender a healthy teaching and learning environment in the system so as to avoid an indefinite shutdown of the sector.”

  • Poly debunks insecurity

    Poly debunks insecurity

    The management of Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, Oyo State, has debunked insecurity in the institution, published by some online platforms.

     It described the news as misleading, targeted at tarnishing the image of the institution.

     Students of the institution have protested following alleged robbery and rape in communities around the school.

     But some blogs reported the robberies happened on the school’s premises.

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     A statement by Acting Registrar, Oladele Oladipo, urged the public to disregard such misinformation because the incident happened outside the premises, saying one of the responsibilities of the institution “is protection of life and property of our students.”

     The statement lamented that despite efforts of management in curtailing the menace within the host community, “it’s unfortunate reading misleading news from different blogs as regards the issue.”

  • Strike cripples activities at poly

    Strike cripples activities at poly

    Lecturers of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwanna Afikpo, Ebonyi State, yesterday protested against the management following a salary cut.

    According to them, their Peculiar Academic Allowance (PAA) was withdrawn by the management.

    The protest paralysed academic activities.

    Over 500 lecturers carried placards: “Rector, pay our Peculiar Academic Allowance”; “Bursar pay us our PAA”; “We say no to PAA withdrawal”; “Give us our PAA”; “We are suffering”, among others.

    They besieged the rector and bursar’s offices to register their grievances, led by Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Comrade Karl Nworu. They vowed to continue to protest until their allowance is restored.

    The Rector, Ogbonnia Ibe-Enwo, who addressed the protesters, blamed the withdrawal of the allowance on a shortfall in salaries.

    But the lecturers said they were not satisfied with the Rector’s response, saying he was insincere.

  • Protesting poly students arraigned

    Protesting poly students arraigned

    Fourteen students, comprising 13 males and one female students of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic at Owo in Ondo State, have been arraigned before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in the town.

    The police arrested them a few days ago during a violent demonstration in the town.

    The students were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Court II, sitting at Owo GRA on a three-count charge of conspiracy, felony to wit stealing and malicious damage.

    The suspects are: Lukman Arowolo, 21; Iyanuoluwa Gift, 21; Olayinka Oyewole, 21; Aladejebi Temitope, 35; Oluwadare Gbenga, 26; Japhet Samuel, 21; Ayeni Samuel, 24; Lawrence Monday, 24; Titus Felix, 22; Emmanuel Segun, 23; Ayeni Temitope, 21; Ayeni Trust, 23; Olayinka Olalekan, 17 and Ayomide Opeyemi, 21.

    Police prosecutor, Sergeant Edu Owolabi, told the court that the offences contradict and are punishable under sections 516, 390(9) and 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

    All the accused pleaded not guilty and their lawyer applied for their bail.

    But Owolabi opposed their bail application.

    The Magistrate Mr Sunday Adedapo said he would deliver his ruling on the bail application on February 5.

     

     

  • Poly lecturers begin indefinite strike

    Academic activities in the nation’s polytechnics will be disrupted from today as members of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) begin an indefinite strike action to press government to meet their demands.

    The union accused the Federal Ministry of Education of treating polytechnic education with levity.

    It accused the ministry of failing to attend a conciliatory meeting called by the Ministry of Labour and Employment aimed at resolving their demands, noting that the ministry only sent a deputy director without a mandate to attend the meeting.

    ASUP National President Usman Y. Dutse said the union was declaring a total and indefinite strike, adding that the government was using endless verification exercises to delay the payment of entitlements of the union’s members.

    He said while the union is not against government carrying out verification exercises, it should not be endless and the exercise should not be used to denied workers their rights.

  • Federal Poly Ado Ekiti shut indefinitely

    Federal Poly Ado Ekiti shut indefinitely

    The Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti was on Sunday shut indefinitely following violent protest by students over the death of two of them.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that trouble began on the institution’s campus late Friday, when two of the students reportedly complained of malaria.

    They were said to have been rushed to the Polytechnic Health Centre for treatment, but their condition later became worse. They died in the early hours of Saturday.

    The Registrar of the institution, Mrs. Sade Adediran announced the immediate and indefinite closure of the school.

    Adediran did not however confirm whether any student actually died at the Polytechnic Health Centre, said to be the trigger for the violent protest.

    The statement warned that any student found on campus after the closure would be apprehended and made to face the consequences.

    NAN gathered from campus sources that the students on learning that their colleagues had died, quickly mobilised themselves, marched to the Health Centre and burnt it down.

    Apart from also destroying some other property, the students blocked all roads leading to the institution preventing free movement of vehicles.

    One of the students, who asked not to be mentioned, condemned the attitude of the polytechnic authorities over their welfare and well-being.

    He alleged that the only drug available at the health centre was paracetamol.

    According to him, paracetamol was also given the two students who were taken to the centre, instead of being given effective malaria drugs or injection. (NAN)

  • Abia Poly suspends exam over receipts racket

    The management of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, has suspended the ongoing 2016/ 2017 first semester examination over allegation of forgery of school fees receipts.

    The Nation gathered that many students of the institution had been writing the exams with fake school fees receipts until luck ran out on them on Thursday, last week, when personnel of the bursary department who were on school fees drive discovered the act.

    Rector of the institution Prof Friday Ezionye Eboh, couldn’t be reached while filing the report, but sources in the institution confirmed the suspension. According to The Nation’s sources, the alleged forgery was perpetrated by some students in connivance with a cyber café owner who is currently at large.

    Some sources at the institution told our reporter that a suspect and son of a prominent traditional ruler in Aba, whose name was yet-to-be ascertained, was said to have been arrested and is being detained by the police.

    The sources said management is at present conducting investigation to ascertain the elements behind the racket.

    Another source who craved anonymity said: “Last week Thursday, staff of the bursary department went into the examination halls on a routine school fees drive. This has been the practice over the years. The duty of the staff is to go into the exam hall and fish out students who are writing exams without paying their school fees.

    “It was while they were doing the verification with a particular machine that they discovered the fraud. About 80 per cent of the students writing had fake school fees receipts. It was immediately reported to the management which on Thursday (last week) ordered the suspension of the first semester examinations. The discovery led to the raiding of a cyber café where the receipts were allegedly printed which led to the arrest of a worker at the café who is already detained by the police.”

    The Nation obtained a memo titled:: ‘Suspension of first semester 2016/2017 examination’. The memo signed by the school’s Acting Registrar, Mrs. C.A. Nwabughuogu, read in part: “It has come to the notice of the management that many students are taking the on-going (2016/17) examinations without evidence of payment or with forged school fees receipts.

    “Management has, therefore, decided to suspend the examinations today (May 18). Exams will recommence on Wednesday May 31, 2017. List of students who have actually paid their fees will be obtained from the portal and published.

    Reacting on the development, some of the students who spoke to our reporter said that they were not against management fishing out those responsible. They were only angry over the abrupt suspension of the on-going exams because management failed to consider the effect of such actions on them.

  • NIPR begins varsities, poly debate on PR

    An inter university and polytechnic debate kicked off yesterday  as part of activities to mark the annual Public Relations Week of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, (NIPR).  This is courtesy of the Lagos State chapter of NIPR.

    Called the University PR Challenge, the debate, which is the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa, would end on Friday, next week.

    According to the organiser, the contest aims to discover participants’ talents, capacity and oratory skills.

    Lagos State chapter of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, and Annual General Meeting, Mass Communication students of Pan Atlantic University, University of Lagos, (Unilag), Lagos State Polytechnic, (Laspotech), Yaba College of Technology, (Yabatech), CALEB University and Lagos State University (LASU), will hold a debate on PR.

    Chairman of Lagos NIPR, Olusegun McMedal, said the event is also as an avenue to build camaraderie among complementary professions in marketing communications and management. “There will also be health check-up and awareness walk for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD),” he added. The event began yesterday and would end Friday next week.

    McMedal stated that there will be a leadership lecture on the theme: Exemplary leadership: Public Relations art for nation-state building, holding at the MUSON Centre on Wednesday next week.

    Other activities according to him, would include novelty football match, and dinner

    “The week will climax with a dinner with corporate Lagos; a special fundraising gala towards the building of a secretariat for Lagos NIPR. The dinner will bring together all the professionals occupying public relations roles in the public and private sector to give life to the dream of having a befitting edifice for the chapter.”

  • Abia Poly workers to get Nov pay ‘soon’

    Acting Rector of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, Prof. Friday Ezionye Eboh said staff of the polytechnic would soon be paid their November 2016 salary. This is even as he has assured that the institution under his watch would not experience any industrial dispute.

    Eboh in a maiden press conference with newsmen at the conference room of the polytechnic  described industrial action as an ill wind that blows anyone in the institution any good.

    According to him, the school since his assumption as the acting rector has saved a lot of monies for the institution through plugging of so many leakages and wastages used by being individuals to siphon monies that were supposed to be remitted into the school’s coffers.

    He said that the current steps taking by his administration was to ensure that there won’t be any breach of the institution’s academic calendar as it were the case in the past.

    “We are here to institute a system that works and outlive us and others that will assume office as the head of the institution. We want to ensure that the students get effective delivery of services which they paid for. It is our resolve that the school get back to winning and glorious ways.”

    The rector said that his administration was exploring other avenues to generate more money for the school in order to compliment the monthly subvention to the school by the state government.

  • SUG returns as Poly matriculates 4,000

    SUG returns as Poly matriculates 4,000

    The Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO) in Ondo State is established to train responsible citizens by imparting quality knowledge to students, its Rector, Mr Boniface Ologunagba, has said. The rector said the objective would not be compromised no matter the challenges his administration faces.

    Ologunagba spoke during the matriculation for 4,000 students admitted by the school. The event was held at the school’s 800-seater Lecture Theatre.

    The rector told the freshers that they owe their parents and the nation responsibility to attain the best and be responsible citizens. He said their success depended on the character they put up, urging them to imbibe good character that would bring out the best in them.

    The rector assured that the school would continue to provide a platform for healthy academic competition and make the environment conducive for learning to enable students compete with their peers across the world.

    He said: “This polytechnic is justifying its excellence with luminous distinctions and a long list of laurels. The school has been rated by national and international bodies as the best state polytechnic in Nigeria. This means you have uncommon opportunity to study in this place and become the best.”

    Ologunaga advised the freshers to guide their admission jealously, urging them to desist from acts that could lead to their expulsion.

    He said: “Your dreams to become champions in various spheres of life are achievable if you would be ready to maximise the limitless opportunities that your admission to this institution offers you. I urge you to follow the steps of your senior colleagues, who have written their names in gold by doing the institution proud.”

    Ologunagba said the school frowns at vice, including cultism, hooliganism, rape and examination malpractice, advising the fresh students to abide by the oath of the matriculation. He said there would be strict penalty for violators.

    A  fresher, Olajumoke Fasaye, admitted into the Department of Mass Communication, promised to study hard to attain excellence.

    The school announced reinstatement of the Students’ Union Government (SUG) activities. The union led by Temidayo Ayejuyo was reinstated a few hours before the matriculation.

    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the reinstatement may not be unconnected with appeal made by National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS). The school found members of the union guilty of gross misconduct against the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), which led to the suspension of the union activities.