Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) at the College of Agriculture, More Plantation, Ibadan, may soon embark on another round of industrial action over the refusal of the college provost to allow its members carry out their activities, The Nigeria Standard gathered.
The union raised the alarm today while condemning the administrative style of the Provost of the college, Dr. Babajide Adelekan.
It seized the avenue to kick against the invasion of the college by men of the Department of State Security (DSS).
The workers, some of whom who were to write their promotional examinations while addressing reporters through their Chairman, Comrade Olufemi Jokanola, stated the problem with the provost started when he warned them against their membership of ASUP, the union which they believed share common objectives with all Colleges of Agriculture across the country.
Jokanola noted that their ordeal started when his members refused to take to the dictation of the Provost. He stated the Provost has continued to intimidate them through various ways including issuing queries to the leadership of the union in the college, which has led to serious tension among workers.
While maintaining that the workers will not bow to the intimidation and that ASUP has come to stay in the college, he disclosed that three queries were issued in a day to himself and the Secretary of the union, Comrade Eyitayo Oluade, for issuing a communique at the end of the congress of the union.
He stated further that academic workers in monotechnics in the country are members of ASUP, wondering why that of the College will be different from other institutions.
Jokotola who enjoined the Provost to stop the intimidation of members of the union, insisted that the refusal of the management to allow Oluade, take the promotional examination because of the queries issued to him will not cow them to stop being members of ASUP.
He said: “We are members of ASUP. It has come to stay in this College and nothing more. All we agree at the ASUP congress cannot be compromised by us and our refusal to be part of the college part-time programme cannot be reversed. It is our belief that the Provost will see reason with us and allow peace to reign in the college.”