SSANIP DECRIES UNCHECKED APPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS

Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) YABATECH chapter, has condemned the unchecked appropriation of fund to political office holders. The association noted that the jumbo pay allotted to federal lawmakers could overhaul the education sector if properly channeled.

National President, Alhaji Ganiyu Alabi Akinleye, who spoke in Lagos, at the 2010 SSANIP Day and the conferment of Distinguished Members Award (DMA) on personages, called for downsizing of numbers of federal lawmakers from each state.

'In the alternative, the number of persons sent to the National Assembly should be reduced to two, instead of three per state. The union also advised that, lawmakers should operate on part-time bases and should not consider law making that has not being completed in the last four years as full-time job. Then, again, the wages commission should trim the salaries of workers and lawmakers and not the legislator fixing the salaries themselves, he said.'

Akinleye frowned at the way the federal lawmakers appropriate public funds to themselves and said, 'The National Assembly is apparently the most corrupt institution in Nigeria, apart from the police and the customs. Why should they arrogate large salaries to themselves. For God sake, these people meet only two times in a week. Only some days back, the Federal Government proposed the sum of N4.3 trillion for the 2011 budget, SSANIP is asking what percentage of this money is plunged into education?'

The Chairman of the chapter, Mr. Austin Azubuike Okoh, in his address, urged members to turn out en masse and vote God fearing and credible leaders in the 2011 general elections. 'Our votes must count. It is collective responsibilty to join hands with the federal government and INEC particularly to ensure the conduct of peaceful, free and fair elections in 2011. The consequences of making wrong decisions resulting in electing the wrong person will certainly tell hard on all of us.'

The Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Margaret Kudi Ladipo, who was also awarded the DMA for her indefatigable role in turning around situations in YABATECH, commended the SSANIP members and described them as mature people who have demonstrated rare commitments in their relationship with the management of the school.

Mrs. Ladipo, who was represented by the Deputy Rector (Administration), Dr. Henrietta Akubuiro, said, 'They have shown that they are very mature people. SSANIP, YABATECH chapter has exhibited great maturity in the last one year. We need the association to continue to support the management. I find your organization very useful.'

According to the association, the SSANIP members week, which ran from December 13 to 17, featured novelty matches and games, visits to motherless babies homes and old peoples homes. The high point of the programme witnessed the send-forth party for retired SSANIP members and the conferment of Distinguished Members Award (DMA) on individuals who have contributed immensely to the growth and development of the union.