Africa-Press – Nigeria. The Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, has suspended the activities of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Bida chapter, following an indefinite strike by lecturers that disrupted ongoing examinations.
The Registrar, Hussaini Enagi, announced the suspension in a statement, saying the council’s decision was taken “in view of the rising tension and prevailing negative security report.” He advised all union members to comply strictly with the directive.
Lecturers, under the umbrella of ASUP, had on Monday resumed a strike over 18 months of unpaid excess workload allowances. The union, led by its chairman, Kolo Joshua, directed members to boycott examinations and vacate the campus, citing intimidation by management and neglect of their welfare.
Joshua insisted that the strike was a collective decision, stressing that “our struggle is legitimate, anchored on justice, and protected under the relevant labour laws.”
However, the Rector, Dr. Baba Haruna, appealed to the union to respect the rights of staff who might not wish to join the strike, while the governing council urged lecturers to suspend the action in the interest of students.
Reacting, ASUP National President, Shammah Kpanja, described the suspension of the union as disturbing.
“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.”
He emphasized the national body stands firmly behind the Bida chapter and will take up the matter with the appropriate authorities.
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