RUGIPO S.U.G. PRESIDENCY DEMAND QUALITY EDUCATION

The Student Union Government of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, (RUGIPO), led by Comr. Omoboni Olusola Joseph (Excellent), has called on the attention of His Excellency, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, the Governor of Ondo State, to the unpalatable situation of eleven (11) months unpaid salary of staff in the institution, which is also affecting the students at large.

This was revealed in an open letter signed by Comr. Omoboni Olusola (Student Union President), Senator Adebayo Oyenyen (Speaker of the Student Representative Council) and Rt. Hon. Ezra Chris (Chief Judge of the Student Judicial council).

According to the letter which was released by the Union, it was stated that they can no longer keep silent on the issue of unpaid salary of several months to the lecturers, which is directly and indirectly affecting the lives, families of the polytechnic staff and even the future of the student.

It was also contained on the letter that the issue of unpaid salary could lead to half baked students and the future of Nigerian students could be at stake.

It was contained that the institution has now become a place where students contribute and reserve some bottles of coke and water for lecturers during lectures for emergency sake, in order to have better understanding of what they were being taught.

Obviously, education is no longer free; however, students have paid for it and they demand quality and sound education.

In addendum, the Students Union Government (S.U.G.), plead with His Excellency to look into the situation with urgency, because it has become unbearable, inconvenient and an uncomfortable situation for the entire staff and student populace in general.

Meanwhile, the letter also stated that no matter the economic crisis in the State or Country at large, the state government still have the capacity to make the lecturers happy, so that they can do their job with comfort.

Furthermore, it explains that the unpaid salary have caused a lot of health challenges and mental unrest to the polytechnic staff.

It explains that ''there is no way someone can give out the best of his or her knowledge to the students when hungry, because an hungry man is an empty man''.

Moreover, the good and excellent academic performance of the students is no longer guaranteed, as a result of inadequate teaching.

It was stated that the open letter is a plea on behalf of the entire Polytechnic community concerning the lecturers entitlement, even if it is five (5) months salary payment.