The Non-Teaching Staff Union Chapter of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, has constituted two Committees including Committee on Drafting Union Chapter Bye-Law headed by Comrade Michael Oko Anayo as the Chairman & Comrade Ubong Udo Okono as Secretary while Committee on Drafting Union Chapter Welfare Bye-Law is headed by Comrade Isu Isu Ika as the Chairman respectively.
Inaugurating the Two Committees during NOTSUP, Regular Congress held at the New Lecture Theatre Hall, Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana in Afikpo North LGA of Ebonyi State, on the 28th of April, 2022, the Chairman of NOTSUP, Unwana Chapter, Comrade Victor Iduma Okocha charged members of the two Committees to conduct a thorough research in the bid to come up with good & acceptable results that would reflect the purpose of establishing the Union, efficient operations of the Union & protection of interest of members.
Comrade Okocha who narrated the origin & ordeals of the Union by recalling that in 2013, NASU took NOTSUP to Industrial Court to stop the Union from acquiring registration certificate but NASU lost the suit as the case was dismissed & struck out by the court which ruled in favour of NOTSUP by Justice M.N. Esowe.
According to the Union Chapter Chairman, the application for the registration of NOTSUP was not to witch-hunt or destabilize NASU in Nigeria Polytechnic rather it was to provide effective Trade Unionism administration in the Polytechnic Sector.
Comrade Okocha however expressed happiness that the Union has been making progress & stressed the need to sensitize & enlighten members to join the Union by remaining steadfast in their struggle to lay a formidable foundation for the Union to stand the taste of time.
Comrade Victor Iduma Okocha however commended the National Executive Council members of NOTSUP for their doggedness in laying solid foundation for NOTSUP especially the NOTSUP National President, Comrade Shaba Nakorji for his boldness, valient, support, advise & guidance which helped in the establishment of the Union in Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana.
According to him, NOTSUP is Non-Teaching Staff in Polytechnics, Monotechnics, Colleges of Technologies among others.
Others who also spoke shortly after the NOTSUP Regular Congress Meeting held at the school New Lecture Theatre Hall, including the Vice Chairman of NOTSUP, Unwana Chapter, Comrade Oko Michael Anayo, the Secretary of the Union, Comrade Moses Chinedu Ikechukwu & the Treasurer, Mrs. Josephine Nnenne Daniel unanimously said that NOTSUP came up as result of agitation by Non-Teaching Staff of Polytechnic across the country to have a Polytechnic oriented based Union as an indivisible umbrella body to push their demand with one voice to the Federal Government.
The Union Leaders disclosed that the registration of Non-Teaching Staff Union of Polytechnics (NOTSUP) as a Trade Union was only for the Polytechnic Sector while NASU cuts across all tertiary institutions, research institutes among others which have led to making NASU ineffective in advancement of the labour rights and interest of members under the Union as Polytechnic Workers.
According to them, the authority of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana and the school Management are aware of existence of NOTSUP and that the Union is legally established through the required law & that made school authority to recognize & approved the operations of the Union in the Nigeria Polytechnics & the relationship between the Union & school Management of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana had been cordial.
They maintained that information is power stressing that members of NOTSUP, Unwana Chapter, need to be informed & enlightened on the numerous benefits of embracing the Union and activities in the Polytechnic Sector.
Meanwhile, the Congress Meeting ended peacefully with large turnout of members reciting of labour solidarity song, inauguration of two Committees, group photograph among others.
