Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu asked the sacked employees of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, to write a letter of appeal for a review of their disengagement within seven days.
The governor also pledged to set up a visitation panel to examine the sequence of accusations of harassment, corruption, and high-handedness by the striking workers against the management of the institution.
Mr Sanwo-Olu responded to a series of protests about the ongoing crisis rocking the institution by activists, students, and institution employees.
Since January 20, Polytechnic’s non-academic employees have embarked on industrial action on problems related to what they called the incorrect execution of Consolidated Tertiary Institution Salary Structure (CONTISS) 15 migration, poor welfare conditions, harassment of employees and students, among others.
Police had, at about 1:30 a.m. on Thursday allegedly arrested 38 members of the union who were on a sit-out protest in the campus. They were later charged to Ebute Metta magistrate court before they were remanded in prison.
The development led to a protest by a group of activists under the umbrella of the Socialist Workers and Youth League and the Center for Policy Intervention in Africa at the government secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, on Friday.
The group had called for the immediate release of arrested workers, the dissolution of the governing council of the school and the institution’s Samuel Sogunro-led management sacked.
The institution’s students also held a rally at the governor’s office last week calling on the new administration to intervene in the school’s five-month industrial action.
However, in a declaration published by the spokesman of the governor, Gboyega Akosile, on Friday night, the fired employees were told to send their request to the ruling committee with copies sent to the head of service office. He promised to tackle all problems in the 41-year-old organization that hindered progress.
However, Mr Sanwo-Olu advised the institution’s employees to withdraw from fomenting trouble, stating that his administration would not hesitate to raise the big stick against any erring employee.
The statement read; “By the powers conferred on me as Governor of Lagos state, I hereby order the constitution of a Visitation Panel to the institution to investigate all contentious issues and submit its recommendations for my consideration.
“The State Government, without prejudice to an earlier rebuff of its magnanimous gesture to re-consider the disengagement of some employees of the institution, is once again asking disengaged officers who are willing to continue their service in the institution to forward their letters of appeal to the institution’s Governing Council within seven days for a review of their disengagement. Copies of such letters should be duly endorsed to the Head of Service for an unbiased review of the process leading to their disengagement.
“Employees of the institution should note that they are under contractual obligation to perform optimally as stated in the terms of their employment. Any acts that are contrary to this shall be treated in accordance with the Public Service Rules, other extant regulations and the Labour Laws.”
Mr Sanwo-Olu said his administration valued the role played by a powerful, vibrant and enlightened academic union in enshrining an industrial harmony and growth culture. He said, though, that his government would not bow to blackmail and be hoodwinked by “a union that continues to carry out its agitations in a manner that threatens and is becoming inimical to the peace of the state.”
He ensured that normalcy in the organization would be restored and maintained while ensuring the safety and security of all the institution’s employees during and after the exam.
Earlier on Friday, the chapters of the institution of both the Polytechnic Senior Staff Association and the Non-Academic Staff Union released a joint declaration accusing Mr. Sanwo-Olu of providing the order for his detention. It said no level of intimidation or harassment would cow the union.
The employees said that they did not require extra financing from the state, but that the funds available should be invested wisely to meet the institution’s requirements, “and not as is currently being diverted to private pockets.”
The statement was signed by the president of SSANU, Abiodun Awoyemi, and his counterpart of NASU, Semiu Fasasi.
