The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, SSANIP, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree chapter, has thrown its weight behind the suspension of academic activities in the institution.

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, OsunPoly, Iree chapter had last week suspended academic activities over the suspension of the institution’s Rector, Dr Tajudeen Odetayo by the State government.

In the wake of Odetayo’s suspension, Kehinde Alabi was appointed as Acting Rector by the Ademola Adeleke administration.

The institution has remained closed and the unions insist that the status quo would be maintained until Governor Adeleke addresses the matter.

According to a communique signed by the SSANIP Chairman, Olatunji A. Okunola, the onion is toeing the path of ASUP.

Okunola stated that due process was not followed in the suspension of Odetayo and appointment of Kehinde Alabi as acting Rector.

“If a Rector is suspended, the Deputy Rector or the next person in rank should be asked to act in his absence. This is in line with the dictates of the Polytechnic Act.

“As a result of the above, the union has decided to suspend administrative activities on campus until the State Government addresses the matter,” he said.

The OsunPoly ASUP Chairman, Dr Fatai Afolabi, said the union will not resume until the government rescinds its decision.

“Nobody has resumed and the non-teaching staff have joined the strike. They have also communicated to the Government, because they had congress on Monday and decided to support ASUP in this course.

“We have met with several organs of Government, the Council Chairman, commissioner for education at different places, also with the party chairman and they have promised to find solutions to the matter.

“Secondly, one of the things they promised to do was to start the process which they have initiated by giving our suspended Rector a query and the petition and asking him to answer it within 24 hours, which he replied to on Wednesday, so we are waiting for further notice from them,” he stated.

However, a statement signed by the Students’ Union Government President, Azeez Tajudeen Adebayo, expressed disappointment over the ongoing impasse in the school.

The students issued an ultimatum to the concerned parties to settle the issues before Monday, August 7, 2023, failure which will lead to massive protest in Osogbo, the State capital.

“In light of the lack of progress and the urgency of the situation, we, the Students’ Union Government (SUG), hereby issue an ultimatum to the concerned parties to settle the issues and convene the reconciliation meeting before Monday, 7th August, 2023.

“We firmly believe that this ultimatum allows sufficient time for all parties to come together, engage in constructive dialogue, and reach a resolution that prioritizes the interests of the students and the academic community.

“Failure to heed this ultimatum will leave the student body with no choice but to stage a peaceful protest at the Osun State Government House in Osogbo.

“We want to emphasize that our protest will be conducted responsibly, adhering to the principles of peace, respect for law and order, and the rights of all individuals.

“We urge all concerned parties to treat this matter with the utmost urgency and seriousness it deserves.

“We believe that through cooperation and open dialogue, a resolution can be achieved that benefits all stakeholders,” the statement concluded.