Elder statesmen in Ekiti State under the aegis of Ekiti Council of Elders have counselled the authorities of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti and its striking workers to sheathe
their swords in the interest of the students of the school.
The elders made the call in a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in Ado Ekiti.
It was signed by their Chairman, Prof. Tunde Oluwasanmi, and Standing Committee
Chairman, Chief Deji Fasuan.
They lamented that the protracted crisis between the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Theresa Akande, and the various industrial unions of the school was anaemic to the future of the students.
All the unions n the institution, including the Non-Academic Staff Union, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, are currently on strike.
They are accusing Akande of holding their allowances and other issues bordering on the welfare of their members.
The crisis had led to series of protests, culminating in the indefinite closure of the polytechnic by its management to allow peace to reign.
The elders council said it decided to wade into the crisis and had held two meetings in this regard to discuss the issue because the future of many youths now hang in the balance as a result of the crisis.
The communique added: “There is need for all parties to show restraint and understanding until all matters relating to the crisis are settled.
“We have held three separate meetings with the groups ending with a combined meeting with parties in the dispute.
“We are convinced that there is need for all parties to embrace the ongoing peace parleys for lasting peace to return to the institution that had been affected by negative reports in the recent past.
“It is our belief that all the contesting issues can be resolved and we hope to achieve this with the cooperation of all parties.”
The elders appealed to the students to shelve their consistent protests and show understanding for expeditious resolution of the crisis.
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