The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO), Owo Chapter, has pledged their support for the upgrading of the institution to a University status.
The Ondo State Government, owner of the institution had recently announced its resolve to upgrade the State’s only Polytechnic to a University. It claimed the decision was borne out of the directive of the Federal Government.
In lending its support to the move by the State Government, the SSANIP of the Polytechnic issued a statement on Thursday where it declared its support for the Government.
The Association in the statement made available to Precision Online Newspaper by its Chairman, Comrade Chris Olowolade and Secretary, Ojo Akinyemi, also pleaded with the Government to see to their 12 months salary arrears.
The full statement is produced below:
SSANIP RUGIPO SUPPORTS UPGRADING OF POLYTECHNIC TO UNIVERSITY:
……BEMOANS HARANGUE OF SSANU, AAUA.
It is simply deemed propitious to pithily give the background of the then, Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo, now (Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo), which is presently at the brink of degradation, if protracted and long-drawn-out remedial actions are not urgently taken towards revamping the Institution.
The Institution was established in the year 1979, which in actual fact attests to its longinquity of existence, staff strength, productivity, both within the immediate host community and the society by extension. It is an Institution with sterling achievements among its contemporaries.
This is evidenced in a good number of prominent Nigerians whom this citadel of learning has produced in various shades of life. Some of these, among others, are Captains of industries, Scholastic academicians, Business gurus, Legal luminaries, Chief Executive Officers of gilt-edged companies, astute Politicians, Technocrats of high repute, Religious leaders, Traditional rulers, high profile Journalists, Law enforcement Agents of varied ranks, Military Officers.
It is safe to say that, all these eminent personalities are necessarily central to the socio-political, religious, moral, academic and economic development of the nation.
Pursuant to the above, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), RUGIPO Chapter, therefore passionately wishes to make utter avowal of its support to Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu-led administration towards ensuring that her planned upgrade of the Institution to University of Management Sciences and Technology, Owo (UMSTO) is pulled off beautifully.
The Union hereby emphatically affirms its readiness to holistically undergird the current administration of Ondo State in her efforts to meet the age-long desire of the entire workers of the Institution and all other well-meaning Nigerians to transmute Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo to University.
It is firmly believed that the eventual upgrade of the Institution would in no small measure ensure quality education, improved research and development, buffer human capital, guarantee economic growth and social climbing. Laconically, its targeted benefits are boundless to the workforce of the Institution and host community in particular and the larger society in general.
The Union also wishes to disconfirm the unhealthy rumours being peddled by some unscrupulous elements and detractors, both within and outside the State that, Mr Governor is merely pulling a fast one on the people of the State over the proposed upgrading of the Polytechnic to University, while some monger that it is mere dissimulation and jiggery-pokery to gain cheap political height. Therefore, the Union urges all and sundry, especially the good people of the State to connive at such rumours and treat it as Punic faith.
It is a well known fact that Ondo State is blessed with ‘TALK AND DO GOVERNOR’ who always pays reverence to his words, though taciturn but upholds his promise.
The deets of our prayers, inter alia, are as highlighted below:
- Payment of the backlog of salary owed the workers of the Institution be given priority.
*Adequate funding of the Institution be given sedulous attention, as it is a summun bonum to ensuring optimal performance.
*Other welfare package of members of staff, such as, regular promotion and conversion of deserved staff, reopening and efficient operation of staff schools, should not be handled with levity.
*Unhitched TETfund aids to the Institution should be guaranteed.
*Other issues which are catalytic to rapid growth and development of the would-be University.
The Union strongly believes that Mr Governor would hearken to the above-stated demands, as he is disinclined to embarking on by the by project.
Apropos of the rants and diatribe of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko Chapter on the good heart of Mr Governor to upgrade Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo to University, the Union (SSANIP, RUGIPO CHAPTER) hereby exhorts the good people of the state and general public to throw SSANU’s wriggle-wrangle into dustbin, as it is ill-thought-out and therefore should be regarded as a bunch of drivel and absolute balderdash. The tirade is grossly inconsequential.
In fact, the Chairman of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko Chapter needs to patently ruminate over the following questions and do justice to them for his arguments to be free of fandangle, thus; What justification has SSANU to repugn the proposed upgrade of RUGIPO to University? What are the envisaged ominous effects of this upgrade on SSANU? Is it not correct to say avowedly that SSANU intently delved into this argle-bargle out of cheer jealousy? Could this not be a derivate of fear of new entrants? Is it not possible for SSANU to confine its agitation to adequate funding of state-owned Tertiary Institutions? Did the action of SSANU not anti-labour? Could his arguments against the upgrade manumit the workforce of the Institution from the current financial shackles? Hope the Chairman of SSANU, AAUA Chapter is not in oblivion that, SSANIP and NASU in RUGIPO are members of Joint Action Committee (JAC) in this Sunshine State? Or has he forgotten in a hurry that, he is the Chairman of this JAC? What kind of leadership is he providing? Or is he trying to drag us into obsequious submission of interest? Why must he throw caution to the wind??? Limpidly stating, we are overly disappointed in his gibberish and jibber-jabber against the proposed upgrading.
Synoptically, the upgrade of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo to University is incontrovertibly long overdue , considering the mishmash of human and material resources embedded in it. The Union, on a final note, appreciate Mr Governor for his noble plan to upgrade the Institution to University and therefore entreats him to expedite action on it. It is also important to note that, the Union is ready to drum support for the process of this enviable project at any point in time.
The Union equally seizes this opportunity to appreciate the National Executive Committee (NEC), Zone F General Executive Committee (GEC) members and all its perseverant members in Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo. It is the fervent prayers of the Union that, God almighty will continue to protect and bless us all, AMEN.
Compliment of the season to you all.
GOD BLESS THE PROPOSED UMSTO,
GOD BLESS OUR SUNSHINE STATE,
GOD BLESS OUR GOVERNOR, ARAKUNRIN ROTIMI ODUNAYO AKEREDOLU,
GOD BLESS NIGERIA.
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