Iree Poly: Governor Adeleke didn’t sack any worker – SSANIP explains

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) has debunked fake news making the waves that Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has sacked workers of the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree.

In a release signed by the Chairman of the Association in Osun State, Comrade Okunola Olatunji said not a single worker of the Polytechnic was disengaged by the current administration in the state. He described those carry the fake news as enemies of progress who are not happy with the way current government is developing the state.

Comrade Olatunji stated that no members of staff of the institution was sacked or disengaged whatsoever.

He said, “Contrary to the unfounded news making the round on social media recently that the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke sacked over 400 workers in Osun State Polytechnic Iree, I want to clearly state that no members of staff of the institution was sacked or disengaged whatsoever.

“Presently, there are two major categories of workers in the employment of the institution viz: (1) those that were employed by the state government (permanent and pensionable workers) and (2) those that were appointed by the management on Contract basis (Contract workers).

“It is clearly stated in the appointment letters of these Contract workers that they will continue to renew their appointment on a yearly basis. This will help the institution’s management to know the actual number of this category of staffers who are still interested to continue on their job and for adequate preparation for another fiscal year.

“It should be noted that the appointment of contract staffers did not just start today in the institution, it has been there since the time of former Governor Adebisi Akande and the need for the appointment of contract staffers arose when the institution was planning to get accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to mount some new courses and hence the need for qualified and competent workers to pass NBTE Accreditation Exercise and also to continue successful sustainability of courses so mounted.

“Former governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola has to be commended here because he was the governor who made the last permanent employment into the four state owned Tertiary Institutions then (Iree, Ila, Ilesha and Esa-Oke) in 2005 and 2008. Since then, there had been no permanent appointments to date despite the fact that a larger number of those employed then and others who were in ground before had either retired, died or left for greener pastures. In order to keep the institution running, the successive management had to design a means of keeping the institution running to avoid dis-accreditation by the NBTE and this idea of Contract Staff is not limited to Iree alone. It is being practiced in several similar institutions across Nigeria. Federal Polytechnic Ede also directed it’s contract staff to renew their appointment recently.

“The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) Osun State Chapter is also commending our amiable Governor Asiwaju Senator Dr. Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke on his recent approval of a living wage for the state owned tertiary institutions workers (Iree, Esa-Oke and College of Health Tech. Ilesha. Your Excellency sir, we never had it this good in the annals of our history. You are so wonderful sir.

“Lastly as a critical and major stakeholder in the Polytechnic Education Sector in the state in particular and Nigeria in general, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) Osun State Chapter is passionately appealing to our workers friendly governor to please compassionately consider giving the contract staffers in the employ of OSPOLY IREE AND OSCOTECH ESA-OKE a permanent appointment as this will further boost the capacities of these institutions in the comity of Polytechnics in Nigeria.

“Let the “IMOLE” shine to Iree and Esa-Oke too sooner than expected sir.

“May God continue to bless our Talk and Do governor.”, he prayed.

Signed
Comrade Okunola Olatunji A.
SSANIP Chairman
Osun State.