The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Zone C chapter has paid a courtesy visit to His Royal Highness, Olofa of Offa, Oba Muhammad Mufutau Gbadamosi Okikiola Ajagungbade l Esuwoye ll in his palace to felicitate with him for his 11th year coronation anniversary.
The ASUP Zone C executives accompanied by members ASUP Federal Polytechnic Offa Chapter executives and members of management staff were at the monarch palace to present a portrait award of felicitation to the royal father, thereby seeking the monarch interference in the on going ASUP nation wide industrial action that has crippled educational activities of Polytechnic campuses with adverse effects also on the economic activities of host communities.
ASUP Zone C Coordinator, Engr. Yekeen Nureni Asafe on behalf of National President of ASUP, Comrade Anderson Ezeibe said the ongoing strike action is impacting negatively on the students, their parents and on people that derive their livelihood on business within and outside the campuses across the nation; Offa community inclusive. He therefore urged His Royal Highness to use his personal and royal network to speak with the government of Nigeria to do the needful by paying the 15billion naira revitalization fund and 4billion naira minimum wage arrears in order for teaming students of Nigeria Polytechnics and Colleges of Technology to resume learning activities.
The union also seek royal support towards completion of ASUP digital classroom situated at The Federal Polytechnic Offa.
Engr. Asafe noted that the project is a turning point in the history of ASUP of the Federal Polytechnic Offa chapter as the institution is the first beneficiary among the chapters qualified for the project due to the responsible and responsiveness management led by Dr. Lateef Olatunji and ASUP union led by Engr. Dr. Waheed Balogun.
He added that the digital classroom which will cost the union 27 million naira will benefit the institution and Offa community in offering digital and computer based services to students, staff and indigenes when completed.
While responding to the ASUP requests, the Olofa of Offa who is also the imperial majesty of Ibolo Kingdom promised the union swift intervention into the ongoing industrial action and the completion of the Union digital classroom.
According to him: ” I sincerely thank ASUP zone C executives for this honor. When I heard that ASUP wants to give me an award, I was surprised but made up my mind to be available despite my tight schedules today, and for this portrait award with good wordings to felicitate with me on my anniversary, I appreciate you. It shows that I belong to ASUP zone C in reality.”
“On your requests to resolve the strike and your project, I promise to start working on it with immediate effect and you will see the impact of my interference soon. I will also communicate with the Chairman, ASUP FEDPOFFA chapter and the Rector for my substantially and quick intervention to complete your digital classroom project.”
The Rector, Dr. Lateef Olatunji, represented by Director of Academic Planning, Dr. S.A Raji thanked Olofa of Offa for his continuous and unflinching support for the development of the polytechnic. He appreciated the royalty for acceding to the requests of the union on the completion of the project and national strike action.
While giving vote of thanks, ASUP FEDPOFFA General Secretary, Surv. Stephen Obosua thanked the royal father for not only listening to the union but also promising to do something to their requests within shortest period of time.
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Other ASUP zone C executives present were: Chairman ASUP, Federal Polytechnic Offa, Engr. Dr. Waheed Oyelola Balogun, Chairman ASUP, Gateway Polytechnic, Comrade Babatunde Biya, Chairman ASUP, Federal Polytechnic Ede, Barrister Azeez Olukayode, Chairman ASUP, Osun State Polytechnic Iree, Dr. Fatai Afolabi, Zone C zonal secretary, Comrade Mashopa Adekunle, Zone C PRO, Comrade Oshifalujo Babatunde among others.
(Nationnewslead)
