The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has accused staff unions and members of the host community of contributing to the collapse of the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, in Bayelsa State.
At a press conference in Benin City, NAPS President Eshiofune Ogbayan alleged that the institution’s rector, Dr Lukeman Agbabiaka, has faced threats because he is Yoruba, not Ijaw, despite being appointed to head the school in Ijaw land.
The student body called on the Federal Government to guarantee the safety of the rector, ensure students return to class by September 8, and investigate claims of mismanagement. Ogbayan also alleged that non-academic staff outnumber academic staff by “almost 400 per cent,” and accused union leaders of frustrating teaching activities. He further claimed some staff had benefitted from overseas training funds and failed to return.
The polytechnic has been troubled by disputes between management and unions. While the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) is not on strike, it has raised safety concerns following clashes involving members of the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU).
NAPS warned the federal government not to allow the institution, which it described as a “legacy of the Ekowe community,” to collapse.
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