ASUP Resumes Strike at Bayelsa State Polytechnic Over Alleged Illegal Reappointment of Retired Rector
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri Chapter, resumed full industrial action on 16 September 2026. The Union cited a toxic working environment caused by the issuance of unwarranted queries and threats of suspension and dismissal to its members by the retired former Rector.
The former Rector retired from the service of the Polytechnic on 7th February 2024, and his tenure as Rector officially ended on 19th June 2026.
The crisis began when the Governing Council recommended the reappointment of the retired former Rector as substantive Rector of the Polytechnic, despite the fact that he had retired and was no longer eligible for the post. By convention, the position of Rector is reserved for serving academic staff. According to the Union, the statutory process outlined in the Polytechnic’s Establishment Law was not followed. Chapter Chairman Dr. Frank Oyin-Emi Ogbomah stated that the reappointment was carried out “without due process and in clear violation of the laws and statutes governing the tenure of Rectors in Nigerian Polytechnics.” The Union has consistently maintained that a retiree cannot lawfully hold the office of Rector, noting that no retiree has been appointed as Rector of any Polytechnic in the country or as head of any State-owned higher institution.
After a series of engagements with the Governing Council failed to yield a positive response, the Union issued a 14-day ultimatum demanding the reversal of the purported appointment. Upon the expiration of the ultimatum, ASUP declared a total strike on Monday, 10th August 2026.
The Union suspended the strike on 24th August 2026 for three weeks out of deep respect the Union has for His Excellency following the intervention of His Excellency, the Executive Governor, Senator Douye Diri, through His Excellency the Deputy Governor, Hon. Dr. Peter Pereotubo Akpe. The State Government had promised to resolve the issues that led to the industrial action.
Since the suspension of the strike, ASUP has observed a toxic work environment marked by the issuance of unwarranted queries to Heads of Department, Deans, Directors, and Chief Lecturers. The Union stated that it has credible information that the retired former Rector plans to issue further queries and possibly suspend lecturers.
ASUP also questioned the haste to conduct the second-semester examinations when most lecturers had not covered their course content or administered continuous assessments due to the earlier strike. The Union noted that the short notice for the examinations violates National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) guidelines, which stipulate that examinations should only be conducted at least two weeks after the release of the examination timetable to allow both lecturers and students to complete academic activities.
The Union resumed the strike on Wednesday, 16th September 2026. In a statement, it described the incessant and unwarranted queries and threats by the retired former Rector as “the immediate trigger for the resumption of industrial action.”
The Union’s demands include the appointment of an acting Rector and the commencement of the process to recruit a substantive Rector in accordance with the Polytechnic Establishment Law (2014).
ASUP expressed hope that the Governor would act promptly to restore lasting industrial peace at Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri.
Byspoly Aleibiri
Dr. Frank Oyin-EmiOgbomah
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