By Tunde Eso
The Non-Teaching Staff Union of Polytechnics (NOTSUP), National Executive Council (NEC), on Wednesday 5th July 2023, inaugurate leaders to steer the affairs of the Union in Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State.
The inauguration and swear-in ceremony, and the event celebrations all took place at the Stella Obasanjo Lecture Theater Hall Mini Campus, Federal Polytechnic Offa.
The National President of NOTSUP, Comrade Shaba Nakorji led the team of the union National officers: Comrade Innocent Guma (Assistant General Secretary), Comrade Liman Idris Makun (National Treasurer), Comrade Danjuma Nako (P.A to NOTSUP President), and Comrade Victor Iduma Okocha (Southeast Zonal Coordinator, Chairman of Zonal Coordinators) to attend, coordinate the inauguration event.
The National Officers, on arrival, from main gate of the Mini Campus, were largely welcomed by the Chapter leaders, stakeholders, members and staff of Federal Polytechnic Offa who played drums, sing, dance, and chant the slogan, GREAT NOTSUP! and respond in loud echo GREAT, and the crowd used this manner of celebration mode to escort the National Officers into the Stella Obasanjo Lecture Theater Hall venue for the inauguration ceremony.
The Management and Principal Officers of Federal Polytechnic Offa present at the inauguration ceremony are: the polytechnic Chief Judge and Head Legal Unit, the Registrar represented by Mr. Oyesola( Deputy Registrar), Mr. Aboki (Head Servicom), Mrs. Folake Esther Oyinloye
(Head, Public Relations), etc.
The inauguration programme started after an opening prayer, and able Comrade Victor Iduma Okocha introduced members of the National Officers to Offa Polytechnic Community, likewise the management staff and principal officers present were introduce to the National Officers by moderator of the ceremony (M.C).
In his inaugural speech, NOTSUP National President, said that NOTSUP struggle started when a meeting was held by twenty five non teaching staff union chairmen of which some are working in state and others Federal polytechnic.
In the meeting, several persons were nominated to lead the struggle but they would decline and say that they aren't strong to withstand the voodoo powers and financial might of Peter Adeyemi.
The chairmen unanimously concluded in the meeting that since I brought the idea let me lead the struggle, and they will join the Union when i succeed to have the Trade Union Certificate of Registration.
While in the meeting three names where proposed for the union, one is Non Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (NASUP), but the chairmen rejected all the names because it sound NASU alike, and the chairmen request i go make findings and researched for suitable name of the union. So i did the research with my Secretary and I discovered that Non-Teaching Staff of Polytechnics (NOTSUP) is a registered Trade Union in some developed counties and that was how i came about the name NOTSUP."
At the end of the meeting the chairmen signed a documented agreement to stop and not support NASU Polytechnic Trade Group and but champion the collective agreed cause to register Polytechnic non teaching staff Trade Union. But when the going was going tough non of the chairmen support me and i spent all I have to pay the sacrifice that today NOTSUP has no court case with anyone and NOTSUP duly won all the court suit filed by NASU, thanks be to God Almighty he said.
Also, NOTSUP National President advice the Offa Polytechnic Chapter Executive Council to always use peaceful dialogue to approach and resolve issues with their Management, and to make their members welfarism a Priority.
Following the National President speech, Comrade Victor Iduma Okocha addresses the Offa polytechnic community on the inauguration proceedings, and one after another the Chapter Executive members, the North Central Zonal Secretary, Comrade Ali were inaugurated by the National Officers and issued a Certificate, appointment letter and as well the Chief Judge and Head Legal Unit swear-in the inaugurated Executive in present of the polytechnic staff.
More so, after the inauguration ceremony, the National Officers by enjoined the newly inaugurated Executive and Zonal Secretary pay a courtesy visit to the Rector of the Polytechnic at Federal Polytechnic Offa permanent site.
The joint Executive of both the National and Chapter was received by the Rector in his office, and Comrade Victor Iduma Okocha introduce the National Officers to the Rector.
The NOTSUP National President, Comrade Shaba Nakorji introduce the newly inaugurated Chapter Executive and Zona Secretary to the Rector and also congratulate the Rector on his appointment and thank him for Recognizing NOTSUP.
The Rector in his response appreciate the NOTSUP President message and advice the Chapter Executive to always maintain industrial harmony when carrying out union activities in the polytechnic.