Industrial court orders Adamawa Poly to recall sacked ASUP officials

The National Industrial Courts has ordered the management of the Adamawa state polytechnic to recall  four officials of the Academic Staff Union of Nigerian Polytechnics [ASUP, who were recently sacked by the institution.

The NIC which sat on Thursday in Jos directed the registrar of the polytechnic Alh. Ahmed Mohammed Dadi who appeared on behalf of the institution as respondent in the suit filed by Dr. Colman Tizhe Goji, chairman of ASUP as claimants alongside three others, to reinstate the sacked officials.

Hon. Justice R.H. Gwandu, the  presiding judge in the order directed the parties to return to status quo ante, noting that all actions of commission or omission taken in respect of the matter be suspended until the determination of the suit.

The judge who gave the parties up until April 20th, 2016 to resolve the dispute   however, noted that any action contrary to this order shall be treated as contempt of court.

The outcome of the National Industrial court sitting in Jos, was disclosed to journalist by Barr. G.U Ofen – Imu counsel to the claimants.

He asked the authorities of the Adamawa state polytechnic to abide by the court order while addressing journalist yesterday in Yola, as an important first step towards the amicable resolution of the industrial dispute.

The sacked ASUP officials had dragged the institution management to NIC on February 8th to stave off what it felt was a recrimination by management against some members of the union who have been in the forefront of agitating for improved welfare of academic staff of the institution.

But the management in a swift move on 23rd February, terminated the appointment of Dr. Colman T. Goji, Mr. Charles Lungu, Mr. Kaye N. Nerius and Mr. Goro Solomon Ahmed   basing its actions on the report of a ” staff Disciplinary committee”.

The case has been adjourned to April 20th, 2016 by Hon. Justice R. H Gwandu. Calls put across to the institution’s registrar, to inquire if it would abide by the court order was neither picked nor returned up until the time of filling this report.

Meanwhile, the council of National Officers of ASUP, it was learnt have met over the dismissal of the 4 union officials by the Adamawa state Polytechnic. Dr. Colman, the sacked ASUP, chairman Adamawa polytechnic chapter, who  said he briefed the National Executive Council of ASUP about the development in the institution maintained that the NEC had reached a decision on the issue but was keeping it closely to its chest.

He noted that the union’s NEC considered their sack by the Adamawa state polytechnic as reprehensible and portending a dangerous signal for the society if not addressed.

By Tom Garba, Yola

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