By Kanu Samuel
A public affairs analyst, Mr Samuel Ojo, has appealed to Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State to release funds for payment of workers and retirees of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo( RUGIPO).
Ojo, in a statement in Akure, said that the plights of the workforce and the retirees should come to an end.
The workers of the polytechnic embarked on strike on Feb. 22 over non implementation of new minimum wage and non payment of their three-month salary arrears.
The public affairs analyst, who described Aiyedatiwa as a worker friendly governor, appealed to the governor not to fold his hands while the workers and retirees were dying daily because they could not meet their needs.
” It is disheartening to read with disgust the woes facing the retirees, pensioners and the entire workforce of RUGIPO.
” Many have died due to inability to attend to their health challenges because of denials in the payment of salaries and gratuities while some are turning beggars on the street all because of same denial,” he said.
According to him, the institution’s problem emanated from lack of vision and misplaced priorities by past managers of the polytechnic that could not meet the polytechnic’s investments.
“At a time in history, the institution was so buoyant that the state wanted to borrow money from the institution.
“Due to lack of vision, the fortunes of the institution went for jamboree. In the midst of this problem,the managers of the institution are spending as if they are ignorant of the problems on ground.
“To worsen matters, the managers found it convenient to pay their own severance allowance and gratuities while exiting the office with little or no concern to vast majority of retirees, this leads to accumulated unpaid gratuities.
“The sources of internally revenue generation died in their hands while the little ones available are unwisely and recklessly spent,” he alleged.
Ojo described it as embarrassing that responses from concerned authorities on the plights of the institution’s workers and retirees was that of threat and humiliation.
He noted that the ongoing strike by workers of the polytechnic because of their salary issues would have damaging effects on the institution’s students if not urgently addressed.
” Why should past managers of the institution pay their gratuities to themselves without a recourse to other retirees?
“Which fiscal law permits former rectors to pay their wholesome gratuities while leaving that of their staff unpaid?
“Is it legal for management to borrow from staff cooperative societies without repayments? It is an act of social injustice to pay gratuities on selective procedures.The financial records in the institution needs an investigation.
Howbeit, Ojo opined that in the face of these shortcomings the government should not be insensitive to the plight of the workers.
If the government can afford to buy new SUV cars to government functionaries and motorcycles for others, it is necessary for same government to consider the lives of workers in Rugipo.
It is also necessary to consider the students whose academic activities are in jeopardy, he said.
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