The Federal Polytechnic Ekowe in Bayelsa State remained shut due to an ongoing dispute between the institution’s management and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) over four months of unpaid union dues.
The union initiated an industrial action on July 11, 2025, after the management withheld June salaries and failed to remit union dues for January, February, March, and April 2025.
The management released the withheld June salaries but didn’t remit the outstanding union dues, sparking the union’s protest.
NASU Chairman, Mr. Etebu Ebifiye, stated that the non-remittance of union dues is a breach of labor laws and unacceptable.
The union members have occupied the polytechnic’s liaison office in Yenagoa and the main campus at Ekowe, refusing to budge until the issue is resolved.
The union is demanding the reversal of the four months’ check-off dues, which they believe will resolve the industrial action.
Ebifiye emphasised that the rector’s directive to pay withheld salaries without remitting union dues triggered the industrial action.
Despite the rector’s call for a truce, the union insisted on the payment of the check-off dues.
The dispute has led to the shutdown of the institution, with NASU members blocking the institution’s liaison office and the rector’s residence.
Ebifiye noted that NASU members were tacitly denied promotion as their appraisal forms were not endorsed, further exacerbating the situation.
The union leader said that as long as NASU members are excluded from promotions, the promotion exercise won’t hold.
The rector, Dr. Lukman Adegoke, is reportedly out of town, and the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nimizuo Pereseigha, declined to comment on the labour dispute.
Adegoke has also not responded to calls or text messages seeking his reaction to the dispute.
