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The Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, has ordered the suspension of all activities of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Bida chapter, with immediate effect.

The institution’s registrar, Hussaini Enagi, made the announcement in a statement on Tuesday, stressing that the decision was taken “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,” Mr. Enagi added

The development comes after ASUP-BD directed its members to resume a suspended strike, insisting that management had failed to pay six months out of the alleged 18 months’ worth of excess workload allowances. The union declared: “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 action.”

Reacting earlier to the union’s notice, the polytechnic’s rector, Baba Haruna, urged members to respect the rights of colleagues who may hold contrary opinions. Similarly, Mr. Enagi explained that the council was concerned about the strike’s implications, especially its potential to disrupt the second-semester examinations scheduled to commence on September 15.

“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 registrar said.

The national body of ASUP has, however, condemned the council’s decision. Its president, Shammah Kpanja, described the situation as troubling. “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,” Mr. Kpanja said in a statement issued in Abuja.

The Federal Polytechnic, Bida—located in Niger State—was established in 1977 after the federal government decided to relocate the former Federal College of Technology, Kano, to Bida.

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