Southern-Ijaw—The Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe branch of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has ordered its members not to present themselves for the scheduled staff audit in the institution.
Mangrovepen.ng had reported that staff of the institution had raised an alarm over plans by the management of the school to sack them using the upcoming internal audit as a ploy.
In a communique issued after its emergency congress on Friday, the union observed that the management of the school has shown no form of seriousness on the poor security situation on campus that can hamper any exercise.
The communique which was signed by Franklin Agada, Chairman and Justin Ikirigo, Secretary, knocked the management for the unkept campus environment which they say further heightens the security situation and safety of staff and students.
The union stated that it also observed grave anomalies in the constituted membership of the audit committee.
The communique reads in part:
“The terms of reference do not reflect openness and genuine intentions towards the academic staff who have made sacrifices towards the progress of the institution so far.
“Staff audit should not be in retrospect to promotion and appointments which was approved by Council.
“There is no Council approval for the scheduled staff audit.”
They also observed that the “management has failed in resolving the cravings of ASUP on TETfund matters, on which the internal strike was suspended.”
The institution’s management was also accused of non-payment of agreed arrears of peculiar academic allowance and not attending to infrastructural decay on campus.
While frowning at the management’s attitude toward running the institution from the liaison office, the union also directed its members not to present themselves for the scheduled staff audit until the above concerns are addressed.
“Congress is aware that, if the exercise fails to hold, management intends to explore other avenues to compel staff to present themselves. Therefore, ASUP has resolved to resist any such compulsion legally.
“While we hope Management will consider the above observations and prayers, ASUP is looking forward to the release of APER forms for the next promotion exercise,” the union noted.
They averred that if proper resolutions are not made on the issues raised, the union will resume its suspended internal strike without further notice.
