Bayelsa Polytechnic: ASUP Begins Strike Over Retired Rector’s Reappointment

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri Chapter, has commenced an indefinite withdrawal of academic services over the alleged reappointment of the institution’s retired former rector, Dr. Wisdom Clinton Soreh.

The union said the dispute was not merely about the appointment of an individual but about adherence to the statutory process for appointing the head of the institution and protecting the integrity of the polytechnic system.

At a press briefing held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Yenagoa, on Monday, the ASUP branch chairman, Dr. Frank Oyin-Emi Ogbomah, alleged that the Governing Council breached provisions of the Bayelsa State Polytechnic Establishment Law 2014 and other regulations governing polytechnics in appointing Soreh after his retirement.

The union said Soreh attained the compulsory retirement age of 65 and formally retired from the polytechnic in February 2024, while his tenure as rector ended on June 19, 2026.

Ogbomah said the Governing Council ought to have advertised the vacant position, constituted the required search team and selection board and recommended three qualified candidates to the state government for consideration.

He alleged that none of these procedures was followed before the former Rector was purportedly reappointed.

According to him, the union was particularly concerned about what it described as the backdating of the reappointment letter to June 21, 2026, when Dr. (Mrs.) Yaguo Eremasi Ikele had already been appointed Acting Rector.

He noted that Soreh subsequently handed over the administration of the Polytechnic to Ikele on June 24, 2026, which, according to the union, confirmed that the office of Rector had become vacant.

“The action is a clear violation of the Bayelsa State Polytechnic Establishment Law 2014, the NBTE revised conditions of service for Polytechnics 2017, and the Retirement Age Act of Staff of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Harmonisation Act 2012,” Ogbomah said.

The union also alleged that the Governing Council’s action contradicted its own June 22, 2026 letter appointing Ikele as Acting Rector for six months and promising that due process would be followed in selecting a substantive Rector.

Ogbomah said the union had therefore commenced a complete withdrawal of academic services from Monday, August 10, in compliance with a directive from its national body.

He explained that the strike would continue until the national body directs otherwise, while listing the immediate reversal of Soreh’s purported reappointment, reinstatement of Ikele and commencement of the statutory process for appointing a substantive Rector among the union’s demands.

The controversy centres largely on the procedure for appointing a substantive Rector.

Under the process cited by ASUP, the vacant position is expected to be advertised to qualified academic staff. A search team and selection board are then constituted to screen and interview applicants before three successful candidates are recommended to the Visitor, who makes the final appointment.

The union contends that bypassing these stages could deny qualified serving Chief Lecturers the opportunity to compete for the position and weaken confidence in the governance of the institution.

Ogbomah said, “First, you must advertise for all qualified Chief Lecturers in the Polytechnic to apply. So, we want our Governing Council to advertise. So, if they feel that the Rector is qualified, it is open for everybody.”

The union also raised concerns about the possible consequences of allowing the dispute to persist, particularly for students and the institution’s accreditation and funding.

According to ASUP, prolonged industrial action at the national level could have implications for accredited programmes and funding from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

The chairman explained that TETFund support complements the state’s investment in the Polytechnic and that anything capable of jeopardising such support could ultimately affect students and infrastructure development.

“If this is allowed to continue, ASUP at the national level will invoke what we call the innovative instrument. And at that stage, all those accredited programmes that we have been enjoying will be withdrawn,” he said.

“Apart from that, TETFund as well will stop funding the school, the institution,” he added.

The union maintained that it was acting to protect the institution rather than undermine the state government. “The fight of ASUP is also a fight for the state. It’s also a fight for the integrity of the state,” Ogbomah said.

Responding to concerns about the impact of the industrial action on students and the academic calendar, Ogbomah said the decision was beyond the local branch, stressing that the chapter was acting on a directive from the national ASUP leadership.

“The strike is beyond the chapter. It is beyond the chapter. We are following the directive of the national body. So as long as the national body directive stands, the strike also will continue,” he said.

He expressed confidence that Governor Douye Diri would intervene in the dispute, describing the governor as “a listening Governor” and “a labour-friendly Governor.”

The chairman said the union remained open to dialogue but insisted that any resolution must be based on the law.

“We remain open to meaningful dialogue guided strictly by the law. Until the Governing Council complies, the industrial action shall continue. The rule of law must prevail over expediency and personal interest,” the statement said.

The union further claimed that all members of the local ASUP chapter were participating in the action, dismissing reports of dissent within its ranks as propaganda.

Ogbomah maintained that the dispute should not be viewed as a personal battle against the retired Rector but as a demand for compliance with the established procedure.

“When it comes to the appointment of the Rector, it’s a statutory appointment. You must follow due process. And the due process was not followed,” he said.

The ASUP leadership appealed to the Governing Council to reconsider its position and follow the procedure it said was already being applied by another state-owned tertiary institution.

It cited the Isaac Jasper Boro College of Education, where, according to the union, the governing council advertised the position of Provost despite earlier government announcements concerning the occupant of the office.

The union said a similar approach at the Polytechnic would provide an opportunity for qualified candidates to compete and allow the process to proceed without further disruption.

Ogbomah also argued that the union had previously allowed Soreh to complete his tenure despite reaching retirement age, but said the latest development had pushed the matter beyond what the union could accept.

“Because the moment you are in any system, in the service, once you get to 65, you leave. You will leave voluntarily. Nobody will even tell you,” he said.

He urged the state government and the Governing Council to intervene quickly, warning that the students remained the immediate stakeholders affected by the prolonged dispute.