Akala had threatened to sack all the lecturers at the Polytechnic Ibadan and Immanuel Alayande College of Education if they fail to resume to work today.

The lecturers had called his bluff, telling him to do his worse. The bone of contention is over Pay As You Earn Taxation System and the strike has dragged to 9 weeks.

Now that the die is cast, what your opinion on this ugly development !.



Source : http://www.tribune.com.ng/18092009/news/news6.html

The striking lecturers of the Oyo State government-owned tertiary institutions have vowed not to resume work today as directed by the state government.
Apparently reacting to the state government’s threat, the striking lecturers,

under the auspices of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), in a statement signed by its chairman, Comrade Babatunde Dosunmu and Secretary, Comrade Damola Adeyemo, respectively, condemned the threat and accused the state government of trying to destroy education sector in the state.


They described the decision of the state government to sack them after the expiration of the deadline as an act of victimisation and oppression of the workforce.


They stated that they remained resolute, steadfast and committed to their demands and ready to pursue them, using all meaningful mechanism ethical to commonsense and the rule of law.


To this end, the lecturers said, ”we are all united in one voice to condemn the threat of sack and other strategies that might be employed to subdue us into Akalakuta Republic,”


While directing all members to attend an important congress slated for today at the main campus, the striking lecturers were urged to shun and disregard any invitation to sign any attendance register.


It will be recalled that the state government, on Tuesday, issued a three-day ultimatum to the striking lecturers to resume work. The state commissioner for Education, Professor Taoheed Adedoja, had, at a press conference after the state executive council meeting, said that any lecturer who failed to resume today would be regarded as having abscond from his or her duty post.


Meanwhile, the state government has warned that it will not hesitate to replace any of the striking workers of the Ibadan Polytechnic and Immanuel Alayande College of Education Oyo, who failed to resume duty today


The Commissioner for Education Professor Adedoja gave the warning yesterday in Ibadan, while briefing the press at the end of the State Executive Council meeting.


The Commissioner disclosed that the governing councils of the two concerned tertiary institutions have been directed to ensure the resumption of the students and academic work by Wednesday, next week.


The commissioner stressed that any of the workers who failed to heed the directive would be regarded as having absconded and will be treated appropriately.


Prof. Adedoja said that while Government respects the right of workers under the democratic norms, Government will also has a duty to protect the interest of students and the tertiary education system in the Sate, adding that the strike action had seriously affected education system in the State.


In his own contribution, the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters Barrister Lekan Latinwo said the over 9 week strike of the lecturers had been having negative and adverse effect on the studies and education of their students as it has prolonged the academic calendar year and had extended the due time the students are expected to graduate.


He explained that the issue of Pay As You Earn (PAYE) taxation system being protested by the workers remains a statutory and mandatory civic responsibility of all workers as directed by the Federal Government

Source : http://www.tribune.com.ng/18092009/news/news6.html