YABATECH SSANIP BATTLES NEC OVER SUSPENDED OFFICERS

The Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP) in Yaba College of Technology has rejected the indefinite suspension of its executive members by the national body of the union. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the union had recently slammed an indefinite suspension on the Yabatech executives for passing a vote-of-no confidence on the National President, Mr. Ganiyu Akinleye.

The Yabatech executives reportedly incurred the wrath of the national body for passing a vote-of-no confidence recently on the National President, Mr. Ganiyu Akinleye.

In its reaction, the Yabatech congress, in a meeting held at Yusuf Grillo Auditorium of the polytechnic on Tuesday, rose against the decision of the national body and renewed its support for the Austin Okoh-led branch executives. The union's grievances were contained in a communiqué signed by 168 members, which was made available to Daily Sun.

In its resolution, the union said: 'The congress rejected the letter of suspension passed on the chapter executives by the national body of SSANIP, signed by the National Secretary. Consequently, it urged the college management and SSANIP members to disregard the letter of suspension dated April 16, 2010 as the Congress considered it ultra-vires and of no effect.

The Congress also rejected the order by the national body mandating the Co-ordinator (South West) to constitute a caretaker committee that would oversee the affairs of Yabatech branch. Undaunted by the actions of NEC, the congress said its vote-of-no confidence on Mr. Akinleye remained irrevocable, alleging anti-union activities as reasons for the decision. Continuing further, the congress said: 'That Mr. Ganiyu A. Akinleye remains de-listed as a member of Yabatech chapter of SSANIP for his anti-union activities and that deduction of his monthly union dues/levies should be stopped as earlier resolved by the congress.'

The union also stated that the monthly dues of its members would continue while remittance of check-off dues to the national body remained suspended until further notice. The congress, while declaring support for the Austin Okoh-led executives, also mandated them not to attend meetings convened by 'college elders' without the unanimous consent of the members.

When Daily Sun contacted the national president to comment on the issue, he said the resolution of the May 11 meeting had not reached him and opted to remain silent on the issue. He maintained that his status as the national president of the union was not debatable, adding that the national body had decided on the matter in accordance with the union's constitution.

The national executive committee of the union had in a memo signed by the national secretary, expressed support for Mr. Akinleye, claiming that it had not established any act of misconduct against his leadership as alleged by Yabatech branch.