In a Statement signed by its state Director of Media and Publicity, Zadok Akintoye, bemoaned alleged corruption at the Polytechnic and poor management of education sector by the administration of Governor Rotimi Akeredolu in the last two and half years.

“It is also on record, that the management of the institution following the directive of the Chairman of Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Mr. Banji Alabi, has issued letters of disengagement of services to the affected staff of the institution, effectively terminating their sources of livelihood.”

PDP said, “this is the same Governing Council, which has been accused by staff of the institution of wanton acts of corruption and embezzlement, allegedly claiming that its expends over 74 million naira in running an establishment that (also allegedly) makes a revenue of about 4 million naira annually.”

Below is the full text of the Press Statement by the PDP:

PRESS STATEMENT

ALLEGED PRIVATIZATION OF RUFUS GIWA POLYTECHNIC STAFF SCHOOL BY THE APC-LED ADMINISTRATION IN ONDO STATE.

We received yet again with sadness another news that the Governing Council of the once upon a time citadel of polytechnic education in Nigeria, the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic is about privatize the polytechnics staff school to cronies of government.

For the avoidance of doubt, let us put it on record, that the last three years of the life of this administration (which as been witnessed by its maladministration of public education institutions, resulting in the inability of most of these state run establishments to continue to function) remains a period of sorrow, tears and blood in the history of Ondo state.

Since the inception of the Akeredolu/APC-led administration in this state, the governor has shown manifestly that he is averse to the provision of affordable, subsidized and good quality education to our people.

It is on record, that on assumption of office, Mr Governor setup visitation panels to all tertiary institutions in the state and years after the submission of the report by the visitation panel, the Governor has refused to implement any of the recommendations contained in the report.

Secondly, since the inception of this government, we have witnessed an unprecedented increase in school fees payable in all state tertiary institutions, with over 400% increment in most cases, thus ensuring that, many of our theming youths are forced to withdraw from school due to the inability of government to alleviate the oppressive poverty that the APC as compelled on the people.

Thirdly, this government has reduced the monthly subvention to all tertiary institutions, forcing them to find more ways of exploiting the students in a bid to stay afloat.

As at today, virtually all the tertiary institutions in Ondo State have arrears of salaries to both Academic and Non Academic staff despite the increment in the Internally Generated Revenue which is a burden on its own to the entire citizenry of the state.

The latest act of deliberate disdain and unconcern to the plight of the people, is the planned sale of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Staff School, which currently provides educational succor to hundreds of children of members of staff and the host community.

It is also on record, that the management of the institution following the directive of the Chairman of Governing Council of the Polytechnic, Mr. Banji Alabi, has issued letters of disengagement of services to the affected staff of the institution, effectively terminating their sources of livelihood.
This is the same Governing Council, which has been accused by staff of the institution of wanton acts of corruption and embezzlement, allegedly claiming that its expends over 74 million naira in running an establishment that (also allegedly) makes a revenue of about 4 million naira annually.

We condemn this anti people policies of the APC-led government and put it on record, that this institution has been existing in that polytechnic to provide quality primary education for the children of staff and others for years and as never had a reason to be closed down, auctioned off or be sold until now.

We condemn the privatization at this time when lecturers are being owed huge backlog of salaries and call on the governor to immediately rescind such a decision. Our people can not be made to suffer for the mismanagement of public institutions by crony capitalists masquerading as public administrators.

Our party therefore joins in solidarity with the members of staff of the affected institution, to demand that justice be done.

Zadok Akintoye
Director of Media and Publicity, PDP Ondo state