The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic Bida chapter has condemned the move by the management of the institution to sack three leaders of the union despite a restraining order from the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN).

In a message by the ASUP Bida Poly Chairman, Abubakar Ndasabe, Vice Chairman, Owoeye Olaniyi and Assistant Secretary, Ibrahim Abubakar, an appeal was made to the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, to intervene in the matter and stop the planned sack.

The union, who has been at loggerheads with the Rector, Dr Abubakar Dzukogi, over alleged mismanagement and maladministration stated that the planned sack is connected with ASUP’s continuous push for the probe of the five years administration of Dr Dzukogi.

ASUP has earlier invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate alleged corrupt practices of the current poly management such as the TETFund grants and misappropriation of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). They restated that their call for the probe was in line with the policy of probity and accountability of the present government.

In an internal memo dated August 11, 2020, the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja Division had declared the reconstituted Senior Staff Disciplinary Committee (SSDC) of the Federal Polytechnic, Bida as null and void and unconstitutional.

The NICN also stated that only a duly constituted Governing Council of the polytechnic is empowered under the Federal Polytechnic Act, 2019 to constitute the SSDC.

The court further declared as void any disciplinary action taken against the three ASUP executives and issued a restraining order on September 26, 2020, to the council, rector and registrar from receiving, acting on or implementing any recommendations from the committee.

In another petition to the Minister of Education, ASUP Bida Poly accused Dr Dzukogi of disrespecting the court order. In the letter dated October 6 and titled: “A case of witch-hunt and disrespect to court order”, the union informed the education minister that the rector had concluded plans to sack the three union leaders.  

Reacting to this, Rector of Bida Poly, Dr Dzukogi confirmed that some union leaders who ran foul of the poly laws were to face a panel but went to court for protection. Dzukogi insisted that due process was followed in setting up the SSDC and wondered why the union leaders who have issues are complaining.