The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics on Sunday vowed to challenge the ban placed on unions in Edo State Government-owned tertiary institutions.
It had been reported earlier that the Godwin Obaseki-led administration in the state placed a ban on activities of institutions-based unions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities and ASUP among others.
The ban by Obaseki came in the midst of an ongoing strike by ASUU. But ASUP, in a press statement signed by its National President, Anderson Ezeibe, said it would challenge the ban on the activities of the union.
The statement read, “We are miffed by such a lazy, uncouth and despotic reaction to issues of trade dispute in the institutions by the state government in a democratic dispensation.
“It is a contradiction for a government installed through the globally acclaimed rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly which represent the core values of democracy to descend to such a level of intolerance to the same values.
“The Edo State Polytechnic Usen, which is the only polytechnic owned by the Edo State Government and currently under the direct ‘rulership’ of a certain Ag. Rector is one of the worst administered polytechnics in the country today.”
The union added, “We condemn in totality this purported ban as it does not have the support of the law with labour being on the exclusive legislative list and clearly beyond the meddlesomeness of state governments.
“Our union shall challenge this to the full extent of the law, the same way we are challenging the same disposition by the Kogi state government.”
Credit; Punch.
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