BREAKING: Academic Activities Remain dormant as ASUP, State Govt, Ospoly Mgt reportedly Fail to hold ‘resolution Meeting’

 By Michael Obisesan 

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic, the management of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, and the Osun State government have reportedly failed to hold a resolution meeting. 

It will be recalled that the Students Union Government of the institution had met with government stakeholders on Friday, July 28, 2023, over the suspension of academic activities and the stoppage of the ongoing DPT examination in the institution which was as a result of the ASUP Strike, in which the stakeholders promised to hold a resolution meeting with ASUP, the school management and state government on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 (today).

However, some sources close to the bodies have reported that the involved parties failed to hold a meeting. 

Also, another source claimed that concerned bodies failed to invite ASUP to the meeting. 

NEB had reported how the Students Union Government had proposed to hold a massive protest if the involved bodies failed to hold a resolution meeting to ensure the reopening of the institution today.

BACKGROUND OF THE STORY

Students and members of Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, woke up to the protest of members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Iree chapter at the institution gate.

The protest came as a result of the suspension of the Rector of the institution, Dr, Tajudeen Odetayo who was immediately replaced by an acting Rector, Mr Kehinde Adeyemi Alabi over allegations of Corruption, misuse of office, misappropriation of funds, and others. 

Also, the protest led to the suspension of academic activities by ASUP which however resulted in the stoppage of the ongoing DPT student examination. 

However, In an exclusive interview, Comrade Fatai Afolabi, the ASUP Chairman, Iree chapter expressed displeasure on behalf of  ASUP in what he classified as the strange suspension of the rector of the institution.

The chairman alleged that the state Governor, Ademola Adeleke is only appointing people from his town, stating that Mr Alabi who was appointed as the acting Rector only has a master's degree and didn't top the list of Senior officers who can take the post. 

Furthermore, on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, the Students Union Government wrote a pleading message to ASUP, Ospoly management, and the state government to please resolve their issues and allow academic activities to continue in the institution, most especially the ongoing DPT examination, the pleading messages, however, went with no positive development. 

The suspension of academic activities doesn't seize to stop, as ASUP shows no gesture of calling off their strike but rather agitates that the deputy rector should take charge as the appointed acting rector isn't a senior ranking officer who is qualified for the office.

In a different development, the Students Union Government of the Institution on Thursday, July 27, 2023, wrote a public statement to the bodies to solve their issues in 24 hours or risk a massive protest by the students. 

The Union stated that the arguments between the state government and ASUP are of no concern to the students, therefore the suspension of the ongoing examination and academic activities correlated to wasting students' precious time. 

Surprisingly, the 24 hours given to the concerned bodies led to another meeting between the government stakeholders and the Students Union, in which the stakeholders promised that a resolution meeting will be held between the concerned bodies on Tuesday, August 1, 2023 (today), to ensure Re-opening of the institution while the Union reported that with the development, the school is expected to open before the promised meeting week comes to an end. 

However, the reverse is currently the case, as the concerned bodies have reportedly failed to hold the promised resolution meeting, while the hope of academic resumption in the institution remains dormant.