The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State, Dr. Lukman Adegoke, has reportedly fled the institution, following uprising by the non-academic staff union of the institution protesting withheld union dues and June salary of members.
It was gathered that the aggrieved workers locked up the institution’s liaison office in Yenagoa, the main campus at Ekowe and the residence of the rector.
The lock up allegedly compelled the rector to flee to Abuja for refuge.
The Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe chapter of the Non Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (NASUP) vowed that the institution would remain under lock, until the check off dues and salaries are released.
Mr Etebu Ebifiye, NASUP Chairman in the polytechnic, disclosed in an interview on Monday that the action was carried out by a joint team of NASUP from polytechnics in Bayelsa State and the workers on Friday.
Ebifiye said that the rector withheld their June 2025 salaries and check-off dues for January, February, March ænd April 2025 which triggered an industrial action in the institution.
Ebifiye noted that NASUP members were tacitly denied promotion as their appraisal forms were not endorsed.
He said: “The rector is not worker-friendly. He has sacked our members in NASUP without regard to the labour procedures or due process.
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“He directed all the heads of departments and the deans that NASUP members should not be appraised, a decision that affects the career progress of hundreds of our members
“As if that was not enough, he threatened to withhold our June salaries and as of Thursday, other unions in the polytechnic have been paid.
“Curiously 19 members of NASUP who are loyal to the rector were singled out and paid without deduction and remittance of their check-off dues.
“This is a ploy to make the illegality appear to be the no work no pay rule but usually the agreement at the end of every strike protects workers from victimisation,” Ebifiye said.
The labour leader explained that withholding union dues and salaries of NASUP was in breach of the labour laws and urged the federal government to wade in and resolve the dispute.
When contacted, Mr. Nimizuo Pereseigha, Public Relations Officer of the polytechnic, said the Rector, Dr. Adegoke, is out of town and declined to comment on the labour dispute.