Federal Polytechnic Bida suspended its ASUP chapter after lecturers launched an indefinite strike over unpaid allowances.
The action disrupted semester exams and sparked growing tension on campus amid ongoing staff grievances.
The Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State crisis has deepened after the institution’s governing council announced the suspension of activities of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Bida chapter, following the union’s decision to embark on an indefinite strike.
The strike, which began on Monday, disrupted ongoing semester examinations at the school. By Tuesday, the governing council moved to suspend the union’s operations, citing “rising tension and prevailing negative security reports.”
The lecturers, led by branch chairman Kolo Joshua, had declared the strike over the non-payment of excess workload allowances spanning 18 months under the current rector and 36 months under the previous administration.
Joshua accused management of intimidation, including issuing queries to ASUP executives, instead of addressing the outstanding payments.
In a statement, the union directed members to vacate the campus for safety reasons and boycott examinations.
“Our struggle is legitimate, anchored on justice, and protected under labour laws. This action is a collective mandate of the Congress,” Joshua said.
Rector Dr. Baba Haruna acknowledged the notice of strike but urged union members to respect the rights of colleagues who may choose not to participate.
Registrar Hussaini Enagi reiterated that while the council recognized the union’s right to strike, it also expected law and order to be maintained on campus.
“The council is appealing to the union to reconsider its decision in the greater interest of the system and suspend its strike to allow the council to address the issues holistically,” Enagi stated.
National ASUP President, Shammah Kpanja, condemned the suspension of union activities and criticized the reported use of soldiers to supervise examinations during the industrial action.
“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. The national leadership is in solidarity with the chapter and will escalate the matter to the appropriate quarters,” Kpanja said.
Students expressed frustration that their semester examinations were halted just as they were about to begin, with uncertainty now looming over the academic calendar.
