There may be compounded problem for the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun as the Mapoly lecturers have also issued a 21 days ultimatum over an alleged neglect of the School by the government and the management of the Institution.

This is coming about 24 hours after the organized Labour including the Nigerian Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiation Committee embarked a total and indefinite industrial action in the State.

Last week, the National Union of Pensioners, Ogun State Chapter also issued a 14 days ultimatum to Abiodun over their 150 months unremitted contributory pension, threatening ‘unprecedented protest.”

In a Communique obtained by HorizonTimes, which was addressed to Abiodun, the workers under the aegis of Academic Staff Union, ASUP, alleged that the school had been neglected to run like a private institution.

In the Communique by Osifalajo Babatunde and Adegunle Tomisi, the Chairman and Secretary of the ASUP, respectively, the Union demanded immediate remittance of 55 months accumulated pension deductions from staff salaries.

The remittance, the Union said, should be accompanied with its counterpart funding by the Polytechnic to the respective Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) for each member of staff.

The Union also called on the government to start taking responsibility as the owner and employer of Labour in the Polytechnic, adding that the practice of 100% reliance on Internally Generated Revenue should be truncated immediately.

It alleged that the government has always been in the habit of advancing financial aid to the Polytechnic for salary payment, only to claim it as a form of loan with interests.

The workers also demanded for the payment of 27 months outstanding check-off dues deductions to the Union with immediate implementation of all back-log of appointments and promotions of staff, including the conclusion of appointments for 2018 and the commencement of promotions for 2020.

The Union also demanded immediate appointment of a substantive Rector and appointment of ‘progressive’ governing Council.

Issues raised in the Communique include, “The dwindling quality of education provided to our student population as a result of almost non-existence of power supply and materials for practical in the various laboratories.

“The sustenance of the Polytechnic solely on internally generated revenue. The failure of the government to announce a substantive Rector for the institution. The persistent neglect of Ogun State government and the Management of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic to the plight of staff welfare.

“The practice of 100% reliance on internally generated revenue (IGR) as the only source of monthly wages/salaries payments in the Polytechnic should be truncated herewith as the Union calls on the government of Ogun State to rise up to its responsibilities as the owner and employer of labour in the Polytechnic.

“Moshood Abiola Polytechnic is an Ogun State Government owned institution and should not be run like a private entity, as such the practice of the government advancing financial aid to the Polytechnic for salary payment in time of need/IGR insufficiency and later claim it as a loan even with interest charges to the institution or in lieu of MAPOLY's statutory allocations for several months had further impoverish the Polytechnic and it is not acceptable to us.

“Appointment of substantive Rector and convocation of a progressive Governing Council which we have been denied and negatively impacting on the smooth running of the Polytechnic since 2018. Again, this will redress the incessant delay in salary approval and payment.

“Implementation and payment of minimum wages for workers in the Polytechnic in accordance with the NBTE template, including arrears, as already being enjoyed by our counterparts in the Ogun State civil service effective from October 2021.

“Remittance of 55 months accumulated pension deductions from staff salaries accompanied with its counterpart funding by the Polytechnic to the respective Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) for each member of staff.

“Implementation of all back-log of appointments and promotions of staff, including the conclusion of appointments for 2018 and the commencement of promotions for 2020.

“Payment of over 27 months outstanding check-off dues deductions to the union.

“In light of the various circumstances enumerated above, the Union hereby give a 21 days ultimatum to the Ogun State Government and Management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic to attend to all of these issues raised, failure of which shall result in the declaration of an industrial dispute by the Union.”