The management of The Polytechnic Ibadan on Wednesday described as untrue and malicious allegation that some part-time staff of the institution are being enslaved and paid a meagre salary for his or her services.
Apparently reacting to allegations raised by the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), the institution chapter and rumour on the social media that some workers within the institution are earning as low as N19,500 monthly, the management of the Polytechnic Ibadan said such allegations were unfounded.
In a statement signed by the Registrar of the institution, Mrs Modupe Theresa, the management maintained that no agreement was breached and no-one was being enslaved among the workforce of the Polytechnic, Ibadan.
According to the statement, “the attention of the authorities of The Polytechnic, Ibadan has been drawn to a web publication making the rounds painting the institution black on alleged, unfounded and un-authenticated allegations over employment and part-time lecturing. we would like to categorically state that The Polytechnic, Ibadan isn’t guilty of any of the fees alleged.
“All over the planet and altogether institutions of upper learning, you discover part-time lecturers who offer their services because the name indicates. Some roll in the hay as a stop-gap while checking out other jobs, some roll in the hay as a hobby, some roll in the hay to strengthen their CV while some roll in the hay to collect experience required to satisfy other job specifications.
“The authorities of The Polytechnic, Ibadan can say it with none contradiction that no lecturer or any staff on the payroll of the institution is being owed a dime. it’s on record that this government made a promise that each one civil servants within the state, including staff of The Polytechnic, Ibadan are going to be paid their salaries latest by the 25th of each month. The Polytechnic, Ibadan is not any exception to the present rule as they need been getting salaries as and when due.
“That part-time lecturers are with the institution on agreed terms may be a fact. The institution has not promised any of the part-time lecturers’ employment within the agreed terms, although, if the chance comes such part-time lecturers found to be worthy by qualification, experience and character might be considered for appointment.
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“The Polytechnic, Ibadan has not in any way and can not in any way tie down the prospect of a person be it a full-time staff or part-time. variety of highly qualified teaching and non-teaching staff had migrated to other places for greener pasture within the past. If this is often so, why would The Polytechnic Ibadan prevent part-time staff from going for greener pastures if such opportunities come their way?
“Alleging that the varsity had robbed part-time lecturers of an enormous a part of their lives may be a fallacy and utter blackmail as a part-time lecturer could simultaneously feature in such capacity in other institutions also .
“We might not have an interest within the political angle introduced into the story being circulated but we would like to state categorically that it’s not a criminal offense to interact interested and qualified lecturers to fill some gaps where the paucity of the fund makes it impossible to interact lecturers on a full-time basis in some areas.
“On the alleged withdrawn letters of appointment issued to some individuals, this could not be became a political matter because the institution will always do what’s considered best as a company entity at any point in time. The alleged letters were withdrawn to enable the institution to place all would-be lecturers and staff on equal footing for employment, not on the idea of getting served as a part-time staff.
“Serving as a part-time staff doesn’t mean the individual will emerge because the best during a competitive recruitment exercise in an establishment of the status of The Polytechnic, Ibadan. Surely, when teaching staff are to be recruited, the best-qualified materials with the interest of The Polytechnic, Ibadan at bottom are going to be considered,” the statement concluded.
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