By Abdallah el-Kurebe
#TrackNigeria Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, worried by the lingering industrial crisis rocking the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), on Friday constituted a Visitation Panel to investigate all issues that are setting the staff union of the school against the management.
The governor also ordered members of staff earlier disengaged by the management to forward their letters of appeal to the school’s Governing Council within seven (7) days for a review of the process of their disengagement.
He however gave a condition that the appeal letters got endorsed by the Head of Service to ensure transparency in the review process.
Sanwo-Olu expressed concern over the effects of the protracted crisis on the wellbeing of the school, noting that the prevailing situation had affected the morale of law-abiding employees of the institution, as well as the academic performance of its students.
According to him, government was aware of the humiliation and denigration that the Governing Council and management of the school had endured in the last six months when the impasse began, calling on all stakeholders to keep peace in the interest of the students.
“By the powers conferred on me as Governor of Lagos state, I hereby order the constitution of a Visitation Panel to the Institution to investigate all contentious issues and submit its recommendations for my consideration.
“The State Government, without prejudice to an earlier rebuff of its magnanimous gesture to re-consider the disengagement of some employees of the institution, is once again asking disengaged officers who are willing to continue their service in the institution to forward their letters of appeal to the institution’s Governing Council within seven days for a review of their disengagement.
“Copies of such letters should be duly endorsed to the Head of Service for an unbiased review of the process leading to their disengagement.
“Employees of the institution should note that they are under contractual obligation to perform optimally as stated in the terms of their employment. Any acts that are contrary to this shall be treated in accordance with the Public Service Rules, other extant regulations and the Labour Laws,” he said.
Sanwo-Olu said his administration appreciated the role a strong, dynamic and enlightened academic union is playing in entrenching culture of industrial harmony and development.
He however said his government would not bend to blackmail and be hoodwinked by “a union that continues to carry out its agitations in a manner that threatens and is becoming inimical to the peace of the state.”
He warned any member of the school bent on breaching the peace in the school, saying such person would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all acts capable of disrupting academic activities, breaching a conducive working environment and peaceful co-existence in the Institution shall be dealt with in accordance with the Laws,” the governor said.
He praised students of the school for their “peaceful conduct” in the face of the “needless crisis”, wishing them good luck in their forthcoming examination.
Sanwo-Olu assured that normalcy would be restored and sustained in the institution, while ensuring safety and security of all members of the school during and after the examination.
