LASPOTECH Lecturers Vow To Resist Imposition Of Rector

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Kazeem Ugbodaga

Lecturers and other members of staff of the Lagos State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH, have vowed to resist the imposition of a Rector on the institution by the Lagos State Government.

In a joint press statement by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics, SSANIP, and the Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, LASPOTECH, they said there was plan to impose a new Rector on the institution by the government.

They alleged that in the bid leading to the appointment of the 10th Rector of the school, some people had been interviewed for the job, but noted that the state government has concluded plans to impose a Rector on the school who is not among the people interviewed for the job.

The statement is jointly signed by Akinkugbe Abiola Idowu, Chairman, ASUP; Fasasi Semiu Akinlawon. Chairman, NASU and Awoyemi Abiodun Thomas, Chairman, SSANIP.

“The Lagos State Polytechnic is in the process of making history again with the appointment of the 10th rector, who will steer the ship for another term of five years from 1 June, 2015. The staff unions will, on no ground, accept in whatever form, any external individual to lead her management as rector or any principal officer for that matter.

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“Experience over time has shown that, externally sourced principal officers imposed on the polytechnic before now have exhibited a lack of understanding of the polytechnic system and have only shown parasitic tendencies, having been offered leave of absence from their parent institutions,” they said.

The statement said LASPOTECH had enjoyed a good work relationship with the current government and would counsel that this be not taken for weakness or cowardice, adding that in January, 2011, the then Head of Service, Adesegun Ogunlewe, who represented the state government at a joint meeting of the unions at the institution, the government and the unions signed an agreement to implement the Federal Government/ASUP agreement in all its totality, where the appointment of an internally generated rector is contained.

“We strongly oppose the imposition of any candidate outside the polytechnic system. The staff unions in LASPOTECH are not unaware of the total neglect/contempt and selective favouritism practiced by the Lagos State Government against the polytechnic.

“This is revealed by the fact that, for 16 years of democratic rule in Nigeria and in Lagos State, the moderator/visitor to the polytechnic had never made an appearance during any of her convocation ceremonies even as at the last convocation held on 9 April, 2015.

“The staff unions of the Lagos State Polytechnic will resist vigorously with every means available to them, any further attempt at testing their will. The staff unions are resilient in maintaining industrial peace and harmony within and without the Lagos State Polytechnic if given the right environment and incentives,” they said.

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