The management of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic in Owo (RUGIPO), Ondo State, has appealed to members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP) to call off their strike.

The ASUP members, on June 9, 2023, withdrew their services over the non-payment of 13 months’ salary owed them by the management of the polytechnic.

The Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Gani Ogundahunsi, while speaking with newsmen in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Sunday, urged the lecturers to resume duties to enable the students to participate in the first semester examination which was earlier scheduled for June 13.

Ogundahunsi said the management of the polytechnic has met with ASUP, the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (NASUP) on the matter.

He said: “We appeal for patience. I sympathise with all the staff. But they need to show some level of endurance and sacrifice because they will soon smile again.

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“So, I am appealing to the unions to consider the future of the students and allow them return to class for their examinations.”

A communique signed by the union’s chairman, Ade Arikawe, and Secretary, Damilola Fapetu, at the end of a congress held in the institution, stated that they unanimously agreed to withdraw their services until the institution and Ondo State Government meet their demands.

The union stated that the current price of fuel has added to the hardship their members were experiencing, calling on the management of the institution and the state government to pay their outstanding salaries without delay.

The communique read: “After much emphasis and extensive deliberation, the Congress unanimously agreed to withdraw the services of members from participating in the scheduled first-semester examination exercise, which is proposed to commence on June 13, 2023, until the condition below is met.

“Before arriving at the decision, we observed that the hardship and challenges of the current price of fuel on our members and attendance at their official duties are making it extremely difficult.

“We want the payment in full of all outstanding (13 months) salary arrears owned by the staff of the institution.

“The congress wishes to strongly emphasise that the decision above is binding on all the financial members of the union (ASUP).”

The Star