Lecturers of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree have disregarded the school management’s order to resume duty in light of the suspension of the Rector and subsequent appointment of an acting Rector by the state government.
The Academic Staff Union of the school, following the suspension of Dr Tajudeen Odetayo and the appointment of Mr Kehinde Alabi, the acting Rector, halted academic activities, branding the suspension as a witch-hunt and Alabi’s appointment as a violation of the institution’s laws.
The strike has disrupted the ongoing examinations for part-time students, and academic activities for regular students remain on hold.
In a memo issued on August 11 after a meeting with the state government, the school management, under the leadership of A. Adewoyin, directed the striking lecturers to resume duty on Monday, August 14.
Contrary to the management’s directive, the lecturers, in a statement signed by Ayinde Wasiu, the ASUP Secretary at the school, instructed members not to participate in any academic activities until the upcoming congress scheduled for Wednesday, August 16.
The statement read: “Esteemed members of ASUP Iree chapter are notified of the Congress slated for Wednesday, August 16, 2023.
The Union is meeting with the organ of the state government on Monday, August 14, 2023.
Our members are therefore urged to wait and await the outcome of the meeting as well as the Congress decision.
However, no member is expected to attend to any academic activity until the congress decides otherwise.”
A visit to the school revealed the presence of lecturers, but no academic activities were observed at that time.