By Adesina Quadri
The management of Kwara State Polytechnic Ilorin retrenched seven lecturers in December 2024, barely four months after their appointment. According to various sources available to CDHR, the lecturers were sacked due to their political affiliation with the opposition party in the state. According to another source who pledges anonymity, some ruling party members across different wards in Ilorin staged protests against the appointment of the lecturers, that the opportunity meant for their members were given out to the opposition party and as such one of the reasons for sacking the lecturers.
The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), in an effort to seek redress for the affected lecturers, met with the kwara state Polytechnic management to submit a letter querying the sacking of the lecturers. The letter, which was dated 13th January 2025, was jointly signed by the state chairman, Comrade Afolabi Lukman, and the state secretary, Comrade Folashade Olabanji. The organisation described the action of the management as a gross violation of the fundamental human rights of the affected staff.
CDHR demanded explanations from the Polytechnic management as follows:
1. The reasons behind the sacking of lecturers.
2. The procedures followed in terminating the staff appointments.
3. The support or compensation provided to the affected staff members.
In their reaction, the deputy rector administration, Mr. Isiaka Abdulrahman and the deputy Rector academics, Mrs. Felicia Awolola refuted all the claims and reasons attributed to the retrenchment of the seven staff. The duo stand-in for the Rector who travelled to Abuja for an official assignment. According to them, it is not the wish of the management to retrench staff, but when such a situation occur, there is nothing they can do. They said the sacking lecturers were on probation, and it is written in their employment letter that the appointment can be terminated whenever their service is no longer needed. Secondly, some of the affected staff have certificates that are not relevant due to recent regulations by NBTE, which did not accredit some courses. Also, the revenue base of the school has dropped drastically and can not accommodate th newly employed staff. This is because NBTE has reduced the number of students in their recent regulations in some courses.
The deputy rectors further explained that the current rector has done well for the institution since his inception. According to them, the rector affected the appointment of many part-time lecturers to full-time in those areas where their services were required and their remuneration increased by 70%. They advised the organisation not to listen to the information flying around as it was created to seek public sympathy.
In his reaction, the CDHR National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Idris Afees, appreciates the management team for the audience and detailed explanation regarding the retrenchment. He, however, told the management team to convey the organisation message to the rector while making serious appeal to the Polytechnic authority to reinstate the sacked lecturers. According to him, many of the sacked lectures are the bread winners of their various families. He appealed to the polytechnic authority to consider the current economic hardships as bases for considering the affected staff in whatever capacity they could do.
The management team promised to get back to the organisation in due course. The organisation, therefore, calls for calm by the members of the public while the organisation continues to mediate.
