News

Gov Akeredolu orders sack of over 40 workers of Ondo Poly Staff School

Published

6 years ago

August 7, 2019

Eric

Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has directed that the Staff School of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, RUGIPO should be privatized.

The executive order of the governor to the institution has affected workers of the staff school as sack letters have been delivered to them.

According to the institution’s Governing Council in a statement, it emphasized that the move to privatize the institution was due to lack of funds, adding that the running cost of the school no longer commensurate with the expected returns.

The statement issued by the institution’s Acting Rector, Gani Ogundahunsi, further revealed that the action was taken in line with the executive order of Gov Akeredolu sent to the polytechnic’s Governing Council.

The statement reads in parts that, “the staff school of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic will be privatized and investors are being invited to take advantage of the business opportunity.

“As at now the cost of running the school is N74,000,000.00 (Seventy Four Million Naira)in one year whereas the total income from the school every year is N4,000,000.00 (Four Million Naira ONLY ): This is not sustainable.

“The Governing Council have therefore decided to privatize the school: All the employees employed directly by the Polytechnic will return to the polytechnic Employment while efforts are being made to persuade the investors and the ministry of education to absorb other categories of employees but no person will lose his or her employment as a result of these changes in the corporate structure.

“We solicit for the support of all our employees and the good people of Ondo State to enable us to carry out The Executive order of Mr Governor to the Governing Council.”

The sack letter sent to one of the affected workers entitled “LETTER OF DISENGAGEMENT OF SERVICES” and dated August 5, 2019, which was obtained by DAILY POST read that, “this is to inform you that the Governing Council of the Polytechnic has directed that the Staff Primary and Secondary Schools of the institution be closed down.”

“In view of the above, your services are no longer required. Consequently, you are hereby disengaged from the services of the Polytechnic with effect from Monday 5th August, 2019.”

The letter reads further that “on this regard, the Bursary Department has been directed to compute the entitlements/benefits accruing to you if any. However, this is without prejudice to your being entitled to one month salary in lieu of notice. Council appreciates you and prays for your success in future endeavours.”

However, the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has ordered the re-absorption of the affected members of staff into the mainstream service of the polytechnic.

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday the state’s Commissioner for Information, Donald Ojogo.

According to Ojogo, he stated that the governor has directed the governing council of the institution to enumerate those affected with the development.

The statement read, “the governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, has directed the Governing Board of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, to commence the immediate enumeration of workers likely to be affected by the planned commercialisation of the institution’s Staff School.

“Mr. Governor’s directive which comes on the heels of the fears and concern expressed by persons who may possibly be affected by the decision of the Governing Board, however, targets those who were originally workers of the institution seconded to the Staff School.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Polytechnic’s Staff School is neither owned nor run by the State Government. It is a wholly private business venture by the institution.

Meanwhile, most of the affected workers have described the plan to absorb them into the mainstream of the polytechnic’s service as a ruse.

The workers who craved for anonymity revealed that they have already received sack letters which contradicts the planned absorption by the governing council.

News

Anambra APC Berates Umahi for Hailing Soludo’s Infrastructural Strides

Published

15 hours ago

March 28, 2025

Eric

The Anambra State chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for openly praising Governor Chukwuma Soludo over his strides in infrastructural development.

The party, during a press conference addressed by the State Publicity Secretary Dr Valentine Oliobi, said the words used by the minister undermine the efforts of the party (APC) he is serving, which is also fielding candidates for the governorship contest in November.

Umahi, while on a working visit to Anambra to flag off a federal road, also toured some of Soludo’s projects and concluded that the governor will not have opposition in the coming election because of his marvelous works.

Reacting to Umahi’s commendation, Oliobi described it as mere flattery, meant to placate the governor, insisting that in real sense of governance, Soludo has failed the people of Anambra State.

He said: “Ndi Anambra are not carried away by minister Umahi’s sugar coated words for Soludo. In-between the lines of those so-called praises are nothing but a diplomatic way of expressing disappointment, especially as the governor’s newly constructed roads are already washing away.

“What he saw in Anambra is not impressive but underwhelming. His remarks were not a validation of success, but a subtle reminder that Anambra is not where it should be. It is amusing that Soludo and his cohorts are yet to get to read the handwriting on the wall.”

The party also added that such words by Umahi, even though they were not meant to be true racked of lack of discretion by the minister, who knows that he works for an APC government, and that his party is in the race for a governorship election with the same man he is praising.

“Minister Dave Umahi’s unguided utterances were in support of his business ally, Prof. Soludo. Umahi and Soludo have a joint interest in most of the federal road construction in Anambra.

“But unfortunately for Soludo, the days of empty promises are over as Anambra cannot reinforce failure by renewing unfulfilled contracts through another tenure in office.”

Oliobi listed some of the areas where Soludo has failed, saying the State will vote him out in November. The areas listed include: shoddy road contracts, poor economy, failed security and many others.

News

Rivers: Ibas Suspends Fubara’s Political Appointees

Published

2 days ago

March 27, 2025

Eric

The Rivers State Government has suspended all political office holders and appointees with immediate effect.

A statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief of Staff to the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), listed the affected officers as follows:

The Secretary to the State Government (SSG)

The Chief of Staff

All Honourable Commissioners

Chairmen and members of boards, councils of agencies, commissions, institutions, and parastatals

All Special Advisers, Special Assistants, and Senior Special Assistants

The statement further directed the suspended officials to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries in their respective ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).

In cases where no Permanent Secretary is in place, the most senior Director or Head of Administration is to take over.

This directive takes effect from Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

News

INEC Confirms Receipt of Recall Petition, Notifies Natasha

Published

2 days ago

March 27, 2025

Eric

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has formally notified the Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, about the receipt of a petition seeking her recall.

INEC confirmed the development through a statement by the Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, on Wednesday.

According to the Commission, the petitioners have now provided their contact details, including a mailing address, phone numbers, and email, in compliance with the commission’s guidelines.

This was after the Commission, on Tuesday, said the petitioners seeking Natasha’s recall have not yet met the necessary submission requirements.

The Commission had raised concern that the representatives of the petitioners did not provide their contact address, telephone number(s) and e-mail address(es) in the covering letter forwarding the petition through which they can be contacted as provided in Clause 1(f) of its Regulations and Guidelines

But in a statement on Wednesday, Olumekun said the contact address of representatives of the petitioners, their telephone numbers and e-mail addresses have now been provided in a letter addressed to the Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, dated today Wednesday March, 26, 2025.

“As provided in Clause 2(a) of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Recall 2024, a letter has been written to notify the Senator sought to be recalled about the receipt of the petition and delivered to her official address. The same letter has been copied to the presiding officer of the Senate and published on the Commission’s website”, the commission said.

“The next step is to scrutinise the list of signatories submitted by the petitioners to ascertain that the petition is signed by more than one half (over 50%) of the registered voters in the Constituency. This will be done in the coming days. The outcome, which will be made public, shall determine the next step to be taken by the Commission.

“We once again reassure Nigerians that the process will be open and transparent,” INEC added.