10th July, 2014
Harrison Iyoha
Contrary to rumours that the Federal Polytechnic, Oko (OKOPOLY), has pulled out of the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), it says it is part of the ongoing national strike.
Making this clarification is the the Chairman of the branch, Uwakwe Onyeka, who said the institution remains shut as the chapter and other polytechnic lecturers in the country insist on their demand for better education system for students.
P.M.NEWS Campus Square findings have revealed that Onyeka’s tenure as the local chapter chairman of ASUP expired in October last year and so, cannot act or issue any statement on behalf of the school’s management.
Faulting Onyeka’s claim, the Public Relations Officer of the polytechnic, Obini Onuchukwu, insisted that his tenure as the local chairman of ASUP expired in October last year. He said all academic activities would commence in full swing next week, especially the completion of the suspended second semester examinations, at the institutions.
According to him, the election would hold soon because the election of Onyeka’s successor was scuttled by the ongoing strike.
“The decision to open the institution was taken by the Governing Council after wide consultations and supported by the highest decision-making body, the Academic Board. Beyond that, we expect some certain level of patriotism from ASUP members, having shown solidarity with the union for about one year now. Obviously, the entire system was coming to a halt and that was the reason for the pulling out of the national strike,” he said.
Onyeka had in a statement debunked the rumour of re-opening of the polytechnic and advised all members to resort to ASUP official communication channels for information relating to the union and the ongoing strike.