The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics has threatened to resume industrial action at Bayelsa State Polytechnic following a disagreement with the institution’s management over the absence of some academic officials from a meeting.
The dispute started after the management issued queries to some Heads of Department, Directors and Deans who did not attend an Academic Board meeting held on September 2, 2026.
The affected officials were accused of staying away from the meeting without notifying the institution or giving reasons for their absence. Management described the action as an “act of sabotage” capable of affecting the academic progress of the polytechnic.
ASUP, however, disagreed with the management and said the officials were simply obeying a directive from the union.
In a letter sent to the Registrar on September 4, the Bayelsa State Polytechnic chapter of ASUP called for the withdrawal of the queries.
The letter was signed by the chapter Chairman, Dr Oyin-Emi Ogbomah, and the General Secretary, Comrade Nemine Tonprebofa Andrew.
According to the union, its members were instructed not to participate in meetings convened or chaired by the retired former Rector because ASUP does not recognise the retired official as the current Rector.
The union stated, “As a registered and respected trade union representing serving academic staff, ASUP does not recognise a retiree who is a member of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) as Rector of any polytechnic.”
ASUP argued that a retired Rector had no authority to issue instructions to serving academic staff.
“To the best of our knowledge, there is no polytechnic in the Federal Republic of Nigeria where a retired Rector issues directives to serving academic staff,” the union said.
It added, “ASUP members are not bound by directives issued by a retiree and will not accept such an anomaly.”
The disagreement comes shortly after ASUP suspended an earlier strike at the institution following intervention by the Bayelsa State Government and Governor Douye Diri, who is the Visitor to the polytechnic.
The union said it suspended the action because of the government’s intervention and its desire to return to teaching.
“Our current priority and mandate remain focused on returning to the classroom to teach our students,” the union stated.
Management, however, insisted that the affected academic officers had been properly informed about the Academic Board meeting and were expected to attend.
It reportedly said its records showed that none of them formally communicated an inability to attend, either before or after the meeting.
The institution also pointed out that the strike had already been suspended and staff salaries were paid on September 1, making attendance at the academic meeting necessary.
Management consequently stated, “Your absence is regarded as a deliberate act of sabotage against the academic progress of the Institution.”
The officials were given 48 hours to explain why they failed to attend the meeting, with management warning that failure to respond could lead to disciplinary proceedings.
ASUP has rejected the queries and demanded that they be withdrawn immediately.
“Consequently, the Union demands the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all queries issued to our members for declining to attend meetings with the retired former Rector,” the union stated.
The union further warned that it would escalate the dispute through the appropriate industrial channels if management failed to withdraw the queries.
“We unequivocally state that ASUP will escalate this matter through appropriate industrial channels should these queries not be withdrawn,” ASUP warned.
