The 14-day ultimatum issued by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri Chapter, over the reappointment of a retired Rector should not be dismissed as another routine labour dispute. It raises fundamental questions about institutional governance, adherence to due process and the future of higher education in Bayelsa State.
At the heart of the controversy is the reappointment of the institution’s retired former Rector, Dr. Wisdom Collins Soreh. While the state government may have acted in what it considers the best interest of the Polytechnic, the concerns raised by ASUP deserve urgent attention because of the potentially grave consequences for the institution, its staff and thousands of students.
The union has warned that if the decision is not reversed, the national body of ASUP could invoke its normative instruments against the Polytechnic. These sanctions are not symbolic; they have practical and far-reaching implications.
One of the most serious consequences would be the possible suspension or denial of intervention funds from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). For public tertiary institutions across Nigeria, TETFund remains the backbone of infrastructural development, academic staff training, research grants, library expansion, laboratory equipment and students’ learning facilities. Losing access to these funds would significantly slow the institution’s growth and deprive both staff and students of critical opportunities.
Equally troubling is the possibility of the withdrawal of accreditation for academic programmes. Accreditation is the foundation upon which every academic institution stands. Without it, certificates issued by affected departments could lose credibility, graduates may encounter difficulties in securing employment or admission for further studies, and the Polytechnic’s reputation could suffer irreversible damage.
Perhaps the most devastating consequence would be a recommendation for the delisting of the institution’s programmes by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). If such a measure is taken, prospective students would no longer be able to gain admission into the affected programmes through the national admission process. This would drastically reduce enrolment, weaken public confidence and threaten the long-term viability of the institution.
Beyond these institutional consequences lies the human cost. Students would bear the burden of prolonged strikes, disrupted academic calendars and delayed graduation. Parents would face additional financial and emotional stress, while lecturers and non-academic staff would be caught in another avoidable industrial dispute.
Public tertiary institutions are established to serve the public interest and should therefore be governed by established laws, regulations and transparent administrative procedures.
Leadership appointments must inspire confidence among stakeholders rather than create uncertainty and division.
This editorial is not an endorsement of any individual or group. Rather, it is a call for restraint, dialogue and strict adherence to the laws governing the administration of tertiary institutions. If the reappointment complies with all extant laws and regulations, the government should transparently explain its legal basis. If it does not, corrective action should be taken without delay.
Governor Douye Diri and the Bayelsa State Ministry of Education should immediately engage ASUP and other relevant stakeholders to prevent the dispute from escalating. Industrial harmony is always preferable to confrontation, especially in an academic environment where the ultimate victims are students.
Bayelsa State Polytechnic has made significant progress in recent years. It would be unfortunate if that progress were undermined by a leadership dispute that could have been resolved through consultation, transparency and respect for due process.
The state government, the institution’s Governing Council and ASUP must therefore place the interests of students and the future of the Polytechnic above all other considerations. The institution’s reputation, academic standards and access to national support mechanisms must not become casualties of an avoidable crisis.
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