TOP STORY: Abia Polytechnic In A Mess, Battles For Accreditation, Suspends Union Leaders

The authorities of the Abia State Polytechnic on Thursday, January,27 2021, suspended indefinitely from the employ of the institution the leadership of the workers Union over their alleged roles in the failure of the Polytechnic to secure accreditation for most of its academic Departments from the National Board for Technical Education NBTE.

Anyalewechi Suleiman ABA

The authorities of the Abia State Polytechnic on Thursday, January,27 2021, suspended indefinitely from the employ of the institution the leadership of the workers Union over their alleged roles in the failure of the Polytechnic to secure accreditation for most of its academic Departments from the National Board for Technical Education NBTE.

For some time now the polytechnic has been battling to accredit most of its academic Departments, which have remained unaccredited for some years. Now, leading to the inability of the graduands to be mobilised for the mandatory National Youths Service Corps programme, NYSC in the last four years. Mostly affected are graduands from the school of Engineering who have not been mobilised for the Youth Service in the last four years. The non-accreditation of most of the institutions courses formed part of the reason for a near violent students protest March that rocked the polytechnic late last year.

According to impeccable sources the workers Union leaders of Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU and Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnic SANIP are the ones affected. The workers Union leaders were on Thursday issued with their suspension letters. They are said to be accused by the polytechnic authorities of divulging sensitive information to the regulatory body of polytechnics in Nigeria the NBTE which is said to have in turn led to the refusal of the Board to visit the institution for another round of accreditation exercise after the last failed attempt at accrediting the institutions academic Departments last August.

ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER authoritatively gathered that the union leaders are alleged to have through a letter to the NBTE supplied details of the total salary arrears being owed the polytechnic workers. Workers of the Polytechnic as at the time of reporting are being owed over 30months salaries. The NBTE authorities were said to have been given full insight into the situation of the workers as regards the number of months of salaries being owed the workers.

Part of the conditions for the full accreditation of polytechnics courses by the Board is that the institution seeking accreditation must not owe Its work force for more than three months.

It was gathered that since October 30 last year the polytechnic has made several futile attempts at getting the NBTE to return for another round of accreditation exercise. The authorities of the Polytechnic are said to be holding the leadership of the affected unions liable for the travails of the institution as regards the refusal of the Board to return for another accreditation exercise. To this end the polytechnic management was said to have decided to wield the big stick against the union officials.

In fact, according to informed sources, close to the management, the authorities were said to have been particularly angered by a recent letter written to the polytechnic by the NBTE given a 6-month ultimatum to it to clear the salaries arrears of the workers or prepare for a sanction from the Board.

ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER was informed that the NBTE had in the last few weeks written to about 11 Nigerian Polytechnics suffering the same fate as Abia Poly, warning them of severe sanctions if they continue to owe their workers.

Attempts to speak with the Rector of the Polytechnic Dr Okorie Osonwa Kalu was rebuffed. When he was contacted by ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER reporter, Dr Osonwa Chided reporter for contacting him without first finding out if he is disposed or not.” You think you can just call me seeking an interview without finding out if I am free or not , My  friend I can’t just speak with you I am not free.” Dr Osonwa dismissed reporter.

Meanwhile, the suspended Union leaders are believed to have contacted their national bodies over their plight. Sources close to the suspended Union leaders told ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER that the national bodies of the unions will be visiting the embattled polytechnic next week Wednesday on a trouble shooting mission. They have already secured appointment with the management of the institution in this regard.