Ado-Ekiti Poly Staff Begin Indefinite Strike, Demand Rector's Sack

Workers of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti yesterday embarked on indefinite strike action and called for the immediate sack of the rector, Dr Theresa Akande.

The staff, who also staged protest and declared indefinite strike, accused Akande of financial scam running into several millions of naira among other offences she was alleged to have committed.

The aggrieved workers operating under the umbrella of three unions: Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnic (SSANIP) and Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) started the protest as early as 7am on Monday, blocked the main entrance of the institution and prevented staff and students from gaining entry into the institution.

They equally called on the Federal Government to suspend the rector of the institution, Dr Theresa Akande to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practice Commission (ICPC), probe the finances of the institution.

The Rector, however, denied the allegation through the polytechnic’s Deputy Registrar, Information and Protocol, Mr Adeyemi Adejolu.

She accused the workers of impatience and hidden agenda, saying she expected them to await the outcome of the probe they jointly called for before resorting to protest.

Leaders of the unions, ASUP, SSANIP and NASU, Comrade Tunji Owoye, Dr Oluwole Ayeni and Prince Adekunle Adeniyi respectively led the protest.

They said the institution remained shut pending the time the impasse and the allegation of corruption and others levelled against Dr Akande were cleared by the Federal Government.