The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has resolved the lingering labour dispute at the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
The dispute, which forced the closure of the institution since July 11, was triggered by allegations from the three staff unions, the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) against the Rector, Dr. Agbabiaka Lukman.
The unions accused the Rector of violating the Polytechnic Act by bypassing the Governing Council in handling labour disputes, withholding union check-off dues and staff salaries, victimising union leaders by denying them promotion letters, employing staff without budgetary provisions, and suspending a planned Governing Council meeting under the pretext of insecurity to avoid being investigated. They insisted that only his suspension, pending investigation, would restore industrial harmony in the institution.
The minister had summoned the parties involved to a mediatory meeting held on September 29 in Abuja. After listening to the workers’ representatives and the management, Dr. Alausa fixed October 6 as the official resumption date.
The meeting was attended by the Chairmen and Secretaries of the three unions in the polytechnic, the Rector, and the Governing Council Chairman.
It was further gathered that the minister directed the Governing Council to set up a fresh panel to investigate the allegations leveled against the Rector. The panel is expected to submit its report within three weeks.
The meeting followed a joint petition to the minister after the Governing Council suspended its planned session to address the crisis, citing insecurity. However, the workers faulted the claim, insisting that the suspension was merely an attempt to avoid probing the Rector, as there was no security threat in Bayelsa at the time and council members were already in town for the meeting.
When contacted for an update, the Public Relations Officer of the polytechnic, Mr. Nimizuo Pereseigha, declined comments.
