MANAGEMENT TASKS WARRING FACTIONS IN LASPOTECH TO SHEAT SWORD

IKORODU, Lagos, Nigeria – The management of the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) has urged all warring factions in the recent protest that rocked the institution to allow peace to reign, especially now that the students have resolved to allow the State Government find a lasting solution to the issue that led to the protest.

A release by the Deputy Registrar, Information and Public Relations, Mr. Olanrewaju Kuye, implored the students and the three Unions in the Polytechnic to embrace peace and always explore dialogue for a smooth-running academic programme.

While assuring the public that the situation has been brought under control, the release explained that the protest followed the circular from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) on the issue of CONTISS 15 Migration for Staff on CONTISS 11 and below.

It said that the three Staff Unions of the Polytechnic, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) embarked on the protest demanding for migration in October 2016.

The statement explained that the circular of the salary scheme was received in the year 2014 with effective date from July 2009.

According to the release, the Polytechnic commenced the implementation of the scheme in October 2016 after the strike action embarked upon by the Staff Unions.

“The issue at hand now is the Unions’ request for the payment of the 87 months’ arrears (July 2009 to September 2016) which the State Government is already looking into with the involvement of all the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies,’’ the statement said.

It said that the State Government appealed for more time to address the issue holistically as contained in a letter dated 31st May 2017 and which was communicated to the Unions through the Governing Council of the Polytechnic.

“Unfortunately, the Government’s position did not go down well with the Unions as they wanted the issue resolved on or before Monday 5th June 2017.

“The Unions, therefore, embarked on a fresh strike action, which infuriated the students who also mobilised to demand for continuation of lectures,’’ the statement explained.

It, however, asked the members of the various unions to bury the hatchets and allow the State Government to address the issue holistically as requested and find a lasting solution to the problem.