Breaking News: Fed Poly Oko down tools

 

…Joint Action committee of Trade Unions condemns molestation of ASUP officials
…says it operates in atmosphere of fear

…demands removal of the two officers from Office

Tension is high at Federal Polytechnic, Oko Wednesday as Joint Action Committee of Trade Unions (JACTU) grounded all academic and non academic activities in the institution until further notice.

This was following the recommendations of the Joint Action Committee of Trade Unions (JACTU) to the Rector of the Institution Prof Godwin Onu to remove his two aides, Mr Amobi Chiamogu and Stanley Okafor from office for assaulting the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Oko chapter officials.

JACTU  said  it hereby withdraws herself from further official engagements with management until the issues are resolved adding that it is now operating in an atmosphere of fear, dreadful in academic environment, this they said is unacceptable.

 

Rising from an emergency meeting yesterday JACTU, condemned the attack on the officials of the union by people from the office of the Rector adding that the action smacks of high level of indiscipline and gangsterism.

The resolution made available to  The Nation  was signed by Chairman of ASUP, Dr Onyeka Uwakwe , General Secretary ASUP , Lady Ogugua Ochuba , a lawyer ; Chairman of   NASU, Chief Ezenwankwo Ik and secretary ,Nwankwo Jeff as well as Chairman SSNAIP Okoye G.F and Secretary Nwafor Barnabas.

JACTU wrote Rector Prof Onu and copied National President  of ASUP, General Secretary among others.

It stated in part,’’ a meeting of the Joint Action  of Trade Unions (ASUP, NASU, SSANIP) took place on Tuesday , October 22, 2013 as a result of a report on assault and attack on ASUP by officers attached to your office—Mr Amobi Chiamogu and Barr Stanley Okafor , during ASUP emergency congress held on Monday, October 21, 2013.

 

‘’Mr Amobi Chiamogu began attack on ASUP officials and in the process destroying official documents of the union as well as inflicting body injuries to General- Secretary, Lady Barr Ogugua Ochuba . He later rained punches on one Kossy Ebunilo , an academic staff in the meeting. The legal Adviser ,Br Stanley Okafor lumbered into the meeting with a stick and eventually caused a commotion . Reports indicate that a yet to be confirmed accomplices aided the duo in the act of infamy. The meeting reviewed the situation and concludes the development is strange to an academic environment and public service rules.

‘’Regrettably, the two officers who assaulted and caused bodily injuries to an officer and members of ASUP are key officers attached to your office. How can such highly placed officers of Rectory Unit throw decorum to the winds? Indeed the actions are atrocious that JACTU is worried that these men were sponsored to engage in such heinous acts. Ironically, one of the officers , the legal adviser , Mr Stanley Okafor is not a member of ASUP. What then brought to a meeting of intellectuals?

 

‘’JACTU condemns the action of the duo in entirety and regrets that the actions are unprecedented in the institution. The actions smack of high level of indiscipline and gangsterism. The development is appalling, shocking and unacceptable. Other personal assistants and legal advisers have successfully operated in the institution without abusing powers or causing a breach a breach of peace.

‘’In view of the forgoing, management appears to weigh poorly on Labour relations measurement scale. Consequently, JACTU hereby withdraws herself from further official engagements with management until the issues are resolved.

‘’Regrettably, he victims of the duo are very senior officers of the Polytechnic. JACTU , therefore , demands immediate removal of these officers from office. The action is deplorable and JACTU demands that appropriate punitive sanctions be meted to these people. JACTU also demands unreserved public apology by both management and the concerned officers.

JACTU ended thus, ‘’ Generally, in view of the unguarded utterances of threats to life by the duo , JACTU is compelled to believe that staff and unions now operate in an atmosphere of fear. That is dreadful enough in an academic environment and this is unacceptable’’.