Lecturers under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, on Monday, commenced an indefinite strike.
The strike disrupted the ongoing examination in the school.
Following the development, the governing council of the institution, on Tuesday, suspended the activities of ASUP, Bida chapter, with immediate effect.
The Registrar of the polytechnic, Mr Hussaini Enagi, announced this in a statement on Tuesday, noting that the council took the action “in view of the rising tension and prevailing negative security report.
“In view of the above, management hereby advises all members of the union to adhere strictly to this directive.”
The PUNCH reports that the institution has been in crisis over complaints by academics about excess workload and the management’s failure to pay staff allowances for the past 18 months.
The union, on September 15, declared an indefinite strike over unpaid excess workload allowances.
Led by its branch chairman, Kolo Joshua, the union directed members to boycott the semester examinations and warned against supervision of the exercise.
Joshua asked union members to vacate the campus “for the safety of lives and property,” stressing that the lecturers’ grievances over unpaid allowances remained unresolved.
He accused the management of intimidation, including issuing queries to ASUP executives, instead of addressing financial obligations.
He said the allowances, running into 18 months under the current rector and 36 months under the previous administration, had caused hardship and dampened the morale of lecturers.
“In line with the directive of the congress, and in view of management’s continued reluctance to pay six months of the 18 months owed Excess Workload Allowances, all members are hereby directed to immediately resume the suspended strike.
“This action is a collective mandate of the congress, and as such, full compliance is expected from all members.
“We urge you to remain steadfast and undeterred. Our struggle is legitimate, anchored on justice, and protected under the relevant labour laws,” the statement said.
However, the Rector, Dr Baba Haruna, while acknowledging the notice of the strike, warned the union members to respect the rights of those who might have contrary opinions.
Also, the Registrar, Mr Enagi, in a statement, noted that the attention of the governing council had been drawn to a declaration of resumption of strike action by the lecturers against several appeals to the union.
“Consequent upon the above, the council views with serious concern the implications of the strike on students who were already scheduled to commence second semester examinations on September 15 and wishes to advise as follows:
“That while the council recognises the rights of the union to declare and embark on strike action, the union should also recognise the rights of some members who may not want to join the strike but remain in their duty post and carry out their legitimate official duties without hindrance and any form of intimidation.
“That the council is still appealing to the union to reconsider its decisions in the greater interest of the system and suspend its strike to allow the council to address the issues at stake holistically.
“That the union should ensure observation of law and order by all its members irrespective of their stand regarding the strike action,” the statement noted.
Some students who spoke to our correspondent lamented that lecturers resumed the strike despite the fact that examinations were to start.
ASUP President, Shammah Kpanja, described the development as disturbing.
Commenting on the suspension of ASUP activities in the polytechnic, Kpanja, in a statement, said, “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 an activity purporting to mean an examination in the polytechnic.
“The national leadership of the union is in solidarity with the chapter and shall be taking up these excesses of the governing council and management of the polytechnic with the appropriate quarters.”
