The Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe in Bayelsa State, on Monday resumed academic activities after a lingering labour dispute that shut the institution since July 11 2025.
The resumption of academic activities followed the intervention of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
Our correspondent reports that students and staff of the tertiary institution were seen moving about at the main campus, while the liaison office in Yenagoa was open.
A student of electrical engineering at the institution, James Ebilade, applauded the education minister for brokering a truce that resulted in the reopening of the school.
“The prompt mediation of the minister and subsequent resumption is highly commendable. The students heaved a sigh of relief, hearing the news of the resumption.
“Today, the resumption is a reality as both academic and non-academic staff are on ground,” he said.
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Our correspondent learnt that the minister had summoned parties to the industrial dispute to a mediatory meeting on September 29.
The governing council of the polytechnic held an emergency council meeting at the weekend, ahead of Monday’s resumption and set up a panel to investigate allegations against the Rector, Dr. Lukman Agbabiaka.
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) in the polytechnic had withdrawn their services, alleging high-handedness and breach of the Polytechnic Act.
It was learnt that the probe panel was mandated to report its findings in three weeks in line with the directives of the minister.
The workers had kept the institution under lock for alleged violation of the Polytechnic Act by the rector, who took the unions to court over labour disputes, whereas the governing council was statutorily mandated under the Act to handle labour-related matters.
