Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic in Ikot Osurua faced severe disruptions on Thursday morning as the Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (NASUP) staged a dramatic protest. NASUP members barricaded all gates to the institution, leaving lecturers and students stranded and unable to access the campus.
The protest grounded academic activities as students and lecturers gathered outside the locked gates, while security personnel prevented them from entering. A striking placard displayed at the gate read: “Please come and salvage the situation by directing the implementation of 65 years retirement age.”
In response to the impasse, students temporarily converted the security hall at the main gate into an impromptu classroom, awaiting a resolution. The situation only eased when a senior security officer intervened, allowing students to enter the campus to prevent further escalation.
Read Also: FG sets December deadline to up crude production to 2.2mpd
Comrade George Inyene Geoffrey, President of the Student Union Government (SUG), declined to comment on the incident or address the stranded students, citing an inability to engage with the situation directly.
One lecturer, speaking anonymously, criticized NASUP’s actions, suggesting that the strike was driven by jealousy towards the academic staff, who benefit from a 65-year retirement age. The lecturer argued that non-academic staff, as a distinct category within the institution, should not interfere with academic operations and access.
“In the university system, professors enjoy a 70-year retirement age, while other academic staff have 65 years to focus on research and contributions to the academic community before retirement,” the lecturer said. “If NASUP wants similar benefits, they should transition to academic roles and contribute to knowledge creation.”
The strike continues as the state government is yet to address NASUP’s demands.
