By Nathan Nwakamma
The Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, has settled the ongoing labor conflict at the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, located in the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
The minister called for a mediation session on September 29 involving the parties involved in the industrial dispute that caused the Polytechnic, situated along the River Nun in Bayelsa, to close since July 11.
The Nigerian News Agency (NAN) reported on Wednesday that, following a thorough review of the workers’ representatives and management, Alausa set a resumption date of October 6.
The leaders of the three unions at the polytechnic, along with the Rector and Chairman of the Governing Council, were present at the meeting in Abuja.
The unions include the Non-Academic Staff Union, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) within the polytechnic.
NAN also learned that the minister instructed the governing council to form a new committee to examine various claims made against the Rector by the unions.
The committee was required to present its results within three weeks.
The gathering came after a shared appeal to the minister regarding the postponement of a governing council meeting to address the labor conflict due to safety concerns.
The workers stated in the petition that the claim of insecurity was a tactic to divert attention from an upcoming investigation into allegations against the Rector, as there was no actual security risk in Bayelsa that would justify the suspension, especially since the council members were already present in town for the meeting.
The unions stated that only the temporary removal, pending an inquiry into Rector Dr Agbabiaka Lukman, would ensure workplace peace within the institution.
The employees had maintained the institution in a locked state, accusing the Rector of breaching the Polytechnic Act. The Rector had taken three unions to court regarding labor disputes, even though the governing council was legally required by the Act to manage labor-related issues.
Upon being asked for an update regarding the confrontation, Mr. Nimizuo Pereseigha, the Public Relations Officer of the higher education institution, refused to make any statements.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).
