Ondo Poly Suit Comes up On July 3 For Ruling

An Industrial Court sitting in the Ondo State Capital Akure will on July 3, rule over a case between the 32 sacked workers of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic (RUGIPO) Owo in Ondo State and its management.
The affected staffers, who were relieved of their jobs early last year, include
10 lecturers and 22 non-teaching staffs.

They are praying the court to reinstate them, stressing that they were laid off without genuine reason.
But, the management said they were sacked because the institution needed to be re-organised and their services were no longer required.

At the adoption of the written addresses, counsel to the applicants, Femi Falana (SAN), who was represented by Olusola Salawu argued that the rights of the sacked workers have been infringed upon, referring the court to section 21, 22 and 24 of the institution 2006 act.

Salawu explained that in the said act, there were procedures to be followed when employing or relieving any worker, stressing that the management failed to follow the guideline before sacking the workers.
He faulted the management for tagging the workers “bad eggs” without concrete reason to be given for such name.

But, Counsel to the defendants, Dr. Olumide Ayeni objected the claim, saying the institution has the right to punish any worker found guilty of breaching the law of the Polytechnic.