The Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti was on Monday shut down by protest staged by all workers’ union who demanded the removal of the Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande, accusing her of embezzling a sum of N350 million unremitted cooperative funds.The protesting workers who blocked the main entrance to the polytechnic to prevent access to the campus. Read full details as reported by The Nation Online.

The Union accused the rector of illegal pension deductions from contract staff benefits “in flagrant disregard of the Polytechnic financial regulations.

The protest which commenced at 7.00 am was organised by the institution’s branches of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).

Union leaders who addressed journalists and staff members also accused Mrs. Akande of autocratic tendencies, favouritism and nepotism in staff promotions saying the Polytechnic would remain closed until the rector is cleared of allegations of corruption by the Federal
Government.

The ASUP Chairman, Mr. Tunji Owoeye called on Education Minister Ibrahim Shekarau to order the Rector to step aside to allow unfettered investigation into the allegations of corruption levelled against her by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the
Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC).

ASUP boss further demanded Mrs. Akande’s sack for alleged “non-implementation of CONTISS 15 as directed by FG, non-remittance of staff contributions to cooperative societies, deduction of pension from contract and casual workers, non-refund of pension deduction, highhandedness in policy implementation, award of contracts without following due process and  over-employment.

He said, “The entire Polytechnic Community is tired of her administration and her leadership style. Several times she has tried to polarize institution and de-unionize us using different devices including divide and rule and tribal sentiments.

“Most recent is the use of new workers against the old which accounted for why she over-bloated the system with frivolous employments.

“As we speak now, CONTISS 15 is operational in all the Polytechnics in this country, except Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti. She cajoled us in October, 2013, promising to start when the finances improve, but only to turn around and told us there was no such plan for us”.

Corroborating Owoeye, NASU chief Adekunle Adeniyi accused the Rector of placing workers of the same cadre in different grade levels based on fraternity with her, saying this had promoted acrimony among the workers.

He said, “We want the Federal Government to set up an investigation panel to investigate the activities of the current management. Pending that time, we appeal to the Minister of Education to suspend Dr Akande to prevent the investigations from being impeded.”

Mrs. Akande refuted all the allegations levelled against her by workers of having a hidden agenda advising them to wait for the outcome of the EFCC and ICPC investigations where they had petitioned on her alleged involvement in fraud.

Speaking through the Deputy Registrar (Information and Protocol), Ade Adeyemi-Adejolu the Rector, who said her administration has been transparent  in all its financial dealings, accused the workers of pursuing parochial and selfish agenda.

She accused the workers of acting arbitrarily by not following due process before embarking on indefinite strike urging them to toe the line of civility and embrace dialogue rather than confrontation that could affect the relative peace and co-existence in the institution.

Source: The nation

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