The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has absolved Abia state government of involvement in the face-off between the union and the management of Abia state polytechnic (Abiapoly).
Recall that NLC had shut down the School gate on Monday and was accused by the Students union government of hiring hoodlums to protest against the management in the guise of students. The gate was however forcefully reopened by the students on that Tuesday and Wednesday morning when the picketing team of NLC arrived.
Speaking in a Love 103.9 FM radio program monitored from Umuahia, the State Chairman of NLC, Comrade Obigwe Uchenna, said the face-off with the management of Abiapoly has nothing to do with the state government nor the Governor. He also accused the management of financial recklessness.
“We don’t have anything against the government of Abia state or the governor. The only thing is that they are yet to understand what labour is saying at Abiapoly. Going by the revenue Abiapoly is generating, they are capable of paying themselves. They are pocketing the money and blackmailing the government, asking the government to come and pick all their bills. How can somebody be spending N176,000 in an accommodation that’s supposed to be for the Rector but it is been inhabited by cockroaches and rats,” he said.
He added: “he (Rector) collects N176,000 on Monthly basis, spends N2m Monthly on gas to power Abiapoly whereas even if the school has issues with NEPA or EEDC, 100,000 OR 200,000 will be enough to sort out the issue to enjoy constant power supply. Is that not financial recklessness?”
Reacting to the allegation that NLC is obstructing the ongoing reform in the institution, Obigwe said :
“We are not against the sacking of anybody with a forged certificate or those with falsified records. What we are saying is lay down the parameters to reorganize the place So that innocent workers will not be punished or humiliated.
“We appreciate that house of Assembly committee on education has called for a Meeting. The outcome of the meeting will determine our next line of action. I cannot force labour into an action they have not decided on”
