Tension In Oko Polytechnic As ASUP Suspends 11 Months Old Strike

Odogwuemekaodogwu.com reports that there is tension at Federal Polytechnic Oko Anambra state following the calling off the 11 months industrial action by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP.

ASUP President today suspended the strike but the internal crisis between Prof Godwin Onu and the ASUP in Oko Polytechnic and the Rector, as well as Prof Onu and the community led by Prof Laz Ekwueme , the traditional ruler.

Oko community had said the school would not resume unless the Rector is swapped or removed to but the Rector said he would not want to join issues with the Traditional ruler and the community but the PRO Obini Onuchukwu dismissed the community and the Monarch as they have no such powers of dictating for the Federal Government over who becomes the Rector.

Unless something urgent is done , the students at Federal Polytechnic Oko may suffer another untold hardship should the ,Monarch ,Rector and the Community as well as ASUP remained static with their stands over the issues.

Meanwhile according to the President of the Union, Dr Chibuzor Asomugha after their National Executive Council, NEC, meeting held in Abuja, the strike has been called off for three months.

Asomugha said, “Our National Executive Council, NEC, met today (Saturday) and resolved to suspend the strike for three months starting from Tuesday next week.”

Asomugha who said that the  strike  was suspended for three months explained that the consideration was to allow the new Education Minister, Alhaji Abrahim Shekarau study their demands and take appropriate action.

He, therefore urged students and lecturers without further delay to go back to their classrooms.

He said: “The decision to call off the strike is in consonance with the demand of the present Minister of Education, Alhaji Abrahim Shekarau to allow him study our demands.”

According to the union leader, “all ASUP is asking for is that government makes commitment on when and how the issues will be resolved.’’ He did not state whether the Federal Government has however made any commitment before the suspension of the strike.

You will recalled on Thursday last week after Shekarau was sworn-in as minister on Wednesday that he met with the leadership of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP demand for time to study their demand.