It was gathered that students of the institution who were on campus for lectures earlier on Thursday returned home as there were no lecturers to attend to them.
Workers at the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta, Ogun State, have commenced an indefinite strike over their unpaid three months salaries.
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) in MAPOLY had on Wednesday directed their members to stay at home from Thursday.
It was gathered that students of the institution who were on campus for lectures earlier on Thursday returned home as there were no lecturers to attend to them.
Some of the students at Panseke reportedly said that they may return to their parents if the workers insist on “no pay, no work.”
It was gathered that the different workers unions in MAPOLY had their congresses on Wednesday where the decision for the indefinite strike was taken.
Some of the aggrieved workers have berated the Rector, Dr Adeoye Odedeji, other management staff and the Governing Council over their failure to give proper attention to their welfare.
According to them, a series of letters had been written to the management on the need to prioritise the welfare of staff, but all to no avail, hence, they therefore begged with the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to intervene and help in paying their July, August and September salaries.
The ASUP Chairman, Tomisin Adegunle, who reportedly vowed that the workers would only return to work after their demands have been met said, “We want all our salaries paid, all the remuneration should be paid. Of course, we are afraid of our future. Our deductions have not been paid. Some workers are going to retire in the next few months and what are they going to go home with.”
Reacting to the strike action by the workers, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of MAPOLY, Yemi Ajibola, who confirmed that workers of the institution commenced the industrial action on Thursday said that the Polytechnic had no money.
Ajibola further claimed that the striking workers did officially inform the polytechnic of their intention to go on strike, adding that the workers have access to the polytechnic’s account and they are aware that the polytechnic do not have money.
The PRO was quoted as saying, “They (the workers) have access to the polytechnic’s account. They are aware there is no money. How do they want the Rector or the management or the Bursar to get money to pay salaries. We are being owed three months salaries; that’s a known fact to all of us on the campus. But the unions have access to the account of the polytechnic, they are aware that there is money. So they cannot pass vote of no confidence.”