From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
Federal Polytechnic Offa, has resumed full academic activities following the resolution of a dispute between the institution’s management and the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), over security concerns surrounding the conduct of Governing Council meetings.
The development saw the resumption of the suspended semester examinations on both campuses of the institution on Monday bringing to an end the disruption that followed ASUP’s withdrawal of services on September 15, 2026.
The union had accused the management and Governing Council of mishandling security concerns and alleged that the Federal Ministry of Education was misinformed to justify the decision to hold council meetings outside the polytechnic’s campuses.
In a letter to the Chairman of the Governing Council, signed by ASUP Chairman, Yemi Alabi, the union said its members withdrew their services because of what it described as unresolved security concerns raised by the institution itself.
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The letter, titled “Re: Holding of Governing Council Meetings Outside the Polytechnic,” also accused the council of failing to address what the union described as poor working conditions, declining staff welfare and an unconducive working environment.
The union said, “It is no news that our institution has been plagued with unprecedented industrial disharmony over the years and this instability has been reiterated by the union to be hinged on poor working conditions, declining staff welfare, uninhabitable working environment et al. But the council has turned a blind eye on these palpable concerns.”
Alabi further alleged that the council had cited insecurity as the reason for relocating its meetings to Ilorin, the state capital, and said the union reached its conclusions after a meeting held on September 12.
He said the union was compelled to conclude that the Governing Council had failed in its oversight responsibilities and that the actions of the council and management were capable of affecting peace within the institution and its host community.
The union consequently called for the immediate suspension of the Rector, Engr. Kamoru Kadiri, over alleged malfeasance, while also passing a vote of no confidence in the principal officers and Governing Council.
It also formally communicated its decision to withdraw the services of academic staff until the security concerns were addressed by the Federal Ministry of Education.
However, speaking on the development, the Rector said normal academic activities had resumed, stressing that the semester examinations were already underway.
“As I am talking to you, our semester exams are going on,” Kadiri said.
On the controversy over the venue of Governing Council meetings, the Rector explained that the decision was not unilateral, noting that the council had sought and obtained approval from the Federal Ministry of Education.
In an August letter to the Minister of Education, obtained by newsmen, the Rector, on behalf of the Governing Council, said the decision to hold council and committee meetings outside the polytechnic was a temporary security measure.
According to him, the arrangement “should not be construed as a departure from the statutory responsibilities of the governing council or a diminution of the authority of the polytechnic.”
He added that it was “a temporary and precautionary administrative measure adopted in the overriding interest of institutional stability, effective governance, personal security and the uninterrupted discharge of the council’s statutory functions.”
The Federal Ministry of Education subsequently approved the request.
In a letter conveying the Minister’s approval, the Director of Polytechnic Education and Allied Institutions, Mrs Igwe Amy K., said the meetings could be held at temporarily suitable venues outside the polytechnic because of security concerns.
“I am directed to convey you the approval of the Hon. Minister, for the Governing Council and Council’s statutory committees’ meetings to be convened at temporarily suitable venues outside the confines of the polytechnic due to security reasons, as you requested,” she stated.
The resumption of academic activities and examinations signals a return to normalcy at the institution after days of industrial tension between ASUP and the management.
