Members of the three staff unions in Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH) Tuesday held an interdenominational prayer rally tagged “LASPOTECH STAFF MEMBERS ON THEIR KNEES”.
The unions comprising Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) embarked on the prayer programme to seek divine intervention for the expeditious release of the white paper on the Visitation Panel set up by Lagos State Government on the lingering industrial crisis in the Polytechnic.
According to Comrade Akinrinlola Ibitoye, Chairman, ASUP LASPOTECH chapter “the non release of the white paper has remained a sore point in the progressive strides made by the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in repositioning the Polytechnic”.
He stated that the Sanwo-Olu’s administration has been magnanimous in constituting the 11th Governing Council for the Polytechnic, ensuring transparency in the process leading to the appointment of a new Rector as well as the implementation of the minimum wage with the consequential payment of its arrears to LASPOTECH Staff.
He, However, claim that the release of the white paper is key to addressing many outstanding cases of injustice meted out to their members by the past management of the Polytechnic. Many of the members which were subjected to several unjust disciplinary measures which they are hopeful would be redressed by the recommendations of the Visitation Panel which would form the content of the white paper.
Also, the Chairman of SSANIP LASPOTECH chapter, Comrade Seye Ero-Philips said that “the resort to divine intervention was borne out of the belief by our members that God rules in the affairs of men”.
“We are praying for God to touch the hearts of those at the helms of affairs in Lagos State led by Mr Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu who has been of tremendous influence to the progress made so far by the Polytechnic in recent times. Sanwo-Olu has been wonderful but the delay in releasing the white paper on the Visitation Panel to LASPOTECH is constituting a serious setback for many of our members”.
The highpoints of the event featured worship and prayer sessions led by representatives of Christianity and Islamic faiths.
