…under the ASUP umbrella, resumed an indefinite strike.
NIGER, NIGERIA – The iNews Times |
The Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, has announced the suspension of all activities of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Bida chapter, following the union’s indefinite strike that has disrupted ongoing examinations.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the institution’s Registrar, Hussaini Enagi, explained that the decision was reached after a critical assessment of the tense atmosphere on campus and what he described as a “prevailing negative security report.” Enagi further advised all members of ASUP in the polytechnic to strictly comply with the council’s directive, warning that any act of disobedience could attract disciplinary action.
The dispute between the union and the management came to a head when lecturers, under the ASUP umbrella, resumed an indefinite strike on Monday. The union’s industrial action is rooted in the non-payment of 18 months’ excess workload allowances, which members say has been long overdue. The union chairman, Kolo Joshua, issued a directive asking members to vacate the campus, boycott all ongoing examinations, and refrain from participating in academic activities until their demands are met.
Joshua, who spoke to reporters, described the action as a legitimate struggle anchored on justice. “Our struggle is lawful, protected under relevant labour laws, and aimed at ensuring that our rights and welfare are not neglected,” he insisted. He also accused the polytechnic’s management of intimidation, noting that lecturers have been subjected to undue pressure instead of having their grievances addressed.
Meanwhile, the Rector of the institution, Dr. Baba Haruna, appealed to the striking lecturers to reconsider their stance and respect the rights of staff members who may choose not to participate in the industrial action. According to Haruna, the governing council’s intervention is aimed at restoring normalcy on campus and safeguarding the academic calendar for the benefit of students. “We cannot allow the current situation to spiral out of control,” Haruna said. “Our priority is the welfare of students whose academic pursuits are being disrupted by the strike.”
The council’s decision has, however, attracted sharp criticism from the national leadership of ASUP. In a swift reaction, ASUP’s National President, Shammah Kpanja, condemned the suspension of the union’s activities, describing it as an infringement on the rights of workers to freely associate and engage in collective bargaining.
Kpanja also expressed outrage over what he termed the “militarization of the campus.” He referenced widely circulated pictures and videos showing soldiers allegedly supervising an activity purported to be examinations at the polytechnic, describing the development as disturbing and unbecoming of a tertiary institution.
“We note with displeasure the purported suspension of union activities by the governing council, as well as the embarrassing pictures and videos of soldiers supervising examinations,” Kpanja said. “This action is unacceptable and amounts to an attempt to intimidate our members. The national body stands firmly with the Bida chapter, and we are prepared to escalate this matter to the appropriate authorities.”
Stakeholders fear that the lingering dispute could have far-reaching consequences for students, many of whom were already in the middle of their semester examinations when the strike commenced. Parents and guardians have appealed to both parties to find a common ground, stressing that prolonged disruptions in academic calendars often lead to loss of motivation and longer duration of study for students.
Observers also warn that the standoff between the governing council and the union could deepen tensions if not urgently resolved. Labour experts argue that outright suspension of union activities may not be a sustainable solution and could trigger wider protests by ASUP at the national level.
As the impasse continues, all eyes are on the Federal Ministry of Education and other relevant stakeholders to mediate and avert a total shutdown of the institution. For now, students remain uncertain about when their examinations will resume, while staff await further instructions from the national leadership of their union.
