The Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta Muslim Alumni, (MAPAMA), has expressed serious concern on the ongoing impasse, rocking the institution and which has resulted in over one month total shutdown of both academic and non-academic activities in the school.
This was contained in a press statement signed by a member of the group’s Media and Publicity Committee, Sulaiman Fasasi
MAPAMA said it is deeply concerned about what has become of a once flourishing institution of learning.
Of great concern to MAPAMA is that an institution which berted four other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) polytechnics in the state, now being enmeshed in crises which seem to have defied every solution in the last five years.
MAPAMA maintained that the current logjam cannot be allowed to fester further, as it represents a sad and gloomy phase in the history of MAPOLY.
MAPAMA is not unaware of the agitations of the MAPOLY workforce, chief of which is the inability of the management to meet up with its financial obligations, especially, payment of salaries for four months. This is aside non-remittance of due pensions to the retired staff, as well as suspension of staff promotion and appointment for about five and six years respectively.
MAPAMA expects all those who feel concerned about the progress of the school to find means of addressing these ugly narrative considering the current serious economic hardship in the country.
MAPOLY, a once self-financing and solvent institution has continued to be run like a private institution with the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, which was the source of its strength, presently battling to survive, due to JAMB’s drastic cut in its admission quotas – for both full-time and part-time admissions’ seeking candidates. Whatever might have prompted JAMB to reduce the admission quota of MAPOLY should be a great concern to all stakeholders and urgent steps need to be taken to address this disturbing and worrisome trend.
MAPAMA recognises the effort of the current administration to rescue the institution from the crisis occasioned by the proposed conversion of the polytechnic to a university of science and technology in 2017, but the effort must be comprehensive, inclusive and seamless for it to be appreciated as true partners in progress.
While it is not the intention of MAPAMA to apportion blame, the governor, as the Visitor to the school, needs to take special interest on the happenings at MAPOLY, especially by taking a bold and pragmatic step in pulling the institution out of the current rumpus and return it to its former strong, viable and sustainable path.
It is therefore the position of MAPAMA, that calling of a stakeholders forum which should and must discuss the future of MAPOLY should be considered by both the management and the state government. The forum should also consider MAPOLY yesterday, today and tomorrow, and should not only include internal stakeholders of the institution, but also the outside, including corporate organisations, public-spirited individuals, alumni bodies, leaders of thoughts, traditional and religious leaders among others to chart a new and prosperous way for the vintage institution.
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