Bida, Niger State
In a dramatic escalation amid ongoing labor unrest, the Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, has suspended the activities of the local chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP). The move comes as lecturers continue an indefinite strike that has halted examinations and emptied the campus, citing over 18 months of unpaid excess workload allowances.
The suspension was announced in a statement by Registrar Hussaini Enagi, who attributed the decision to “rising tension and prevailing negative security report.” Lecturers, who resumed their strike on Monday, have boycotted exams and vacated the premises, protesting what they describe as management intimidation and neglect of staff welfare.
ASUP Bida Chapter Chairman Kolo Joshua defended the action, stating, “Our struggle is legitimate, anchored on justice, and protected under the relevant labour laws.” The union’s national leadership echoed this sentiment, with President Shammah Kpanja condemning the suspension as “purported” and criticizing the involvement of soldiers in supervising mock examinations. “We note with displeasure… the embarrassing pictures and videos of soldiers supervising an activity purporting to mean an examination in the polytechnic,” Kpanja said.
Rector Dr. Baba Haruna appealed for calm, urging striking staff to respect non-participating colleagues and calling for the strike’s suspension in the interest of students.
The national ASUP body has pledged full support to the Bida chapter and vowed to escalate the matter to relevant authorities.
As the standoff intensifies, students remain caught in the crossfire, with ongoing exams in jeopardy and academic calendars at risk of further delays
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