MAPOLY workers accuse Governing Council Chair of inciting unions against Ogun Gov.

Some union members of the Moshood Abiola  Polytechnic on Monday said the Governing Council Chairman, Prof. Kamaldeen Balogun was inciting the workers against the State Government, following the crises rocking the institution.

Recall that MAPOLY engaged in financial crisis following the change of status from Polytechnic to degree awarding institution by former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, but was returned to status quo ante by Governor Dapo Abiodun administration.

The reduction of carrying capacity of the Polytechnic to register more students by JAMB has drastically affected the internally generated revenue of the institution to meet its financial obligations.

However, these challenges were responsible for the inability of the management to pay workers salary at when due as self reliance institution.

Some members of staff unions of the Polytechnic who did not want their names in mentioned for security reasons alleged the Governing Council chairman of misrepresenting the government at the unions meeting held recently.

It was  gathered that, Governor Abiodun had on Friday met with the rector and the Chairman Governing Council to find lasting solutions to the situation of workers in the institution.

Abiodun instructed the Council Chairman to meet with the unions to present a proposal which will address all agitation before Tuesday, 2nd May, 2023.

The Chairman, was gathered to have interfered during the protest on minimum wage ensuring that council members address the agitations of the unions and the minimum wage was approved.

A letter obtained by our reporter dated April 28 and signed by the State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu confirmed that the Governor met with the rector and the chairman of council requesting that unions articulate issues of concern ahead of a meeting date to be disclosed later.

However, some unions members claimed that they left the meeting with a message different from what the Governor had requested and were instead on a fault-finding mission against the rector.

The ethnic and religious cards are said to be at play against the emergence of the Rector and the Chairman, Governing Council with a plan to edge them out of the institution.

There were allegations that the Chairman of the governing council, Prof. Kamal Balogun who was inaugurated few weeks after the appointment of Odedeji had his own candidate for the position of Rectorship.

Unconfirmed reports have it that some top officials in the institution have alleged the rector of denying them some benefits with his insistence on the public procurement act.

Speaking with journalists, the Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) in MAPOLY, Dada Olalekan denied the claims that unions are planning a showdown on May day.

In his words, “Whoever told you we are planning a showdown is a liar, we are working on all our agitations and there is no problem, we are good terms.”

When asked who the union has been communication more with to channel their agitation, Olalekan said “I will give you that one tomorrow (May day),”a hint of what is to come.

Also reacting, the immediate past ASUP Chairman of the Polytechnic, Dr. Chibuzor Osifalujo described the allegation against the Governing Council Chairman, as lies from the pit of hell.

Osifulajo argued that whoever came up with the “concocted lies” are mischievous and disgruntled elements within the system.

The visibly angry ex-ASUP Chairman maintained that, rather the Council Chairman had been appealing with the unions to reason with the management on the challenges mitigating against the institution.

He said, “I am the immediate past Chairman of ASUP and part of the exco. I want to start by saying it is a lie from the pit of hell. The the Council Chairman is trying to incite the union against the government and management of the institution. Rather the Chairman has been the one appealing to the unions that we should bear with the government, that the State Government is willing to look into the crisis and plight of workers in MAPOLY and has also been shielding the management that we should try and understand with them.

“So, if some people turn around and start saying the Chairman is inciting the unions against the Ogun State Government, honestly, it is a lie from the pit of hell.

“The Unions have been so cooperative and understanding with the management to ensure we resolve this lingering crisis in MAPOLY. We understand the Governor is ready to meet us any moment from now as a result of the meeting he had with the Rector and the council chairman last Friday. We are peace loving people despite all the problems we had,” Osifalujo stressed.

Other stakeholders concerned on this issue failed to pick up this reporter’s calls.

Calls placed through Prof. Balogun and the Chairman, of the institution’s chapter of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Kola Sopade were neither answered nor returned.