Bida Poly Deploys Soldiers As Exam Invigilators As Lecturers Stay Away

The lingering concern situation astatine the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, took a melodramatic crook connected Monday arsenic soldiers were reportedly deployed to unafraid introspection halls pursuing threats from the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP).

Recall that ASUP had connected September 15 declared an indefinite onslaught implicit 18 months of unpaid excess workload allowances. The union, led by Comrade Kolo Joshua, directed its members to boycott the semester examinations and allegedly warned against supervising the exercise.

According to Daily Trust, a unit subordinate of the polytechnic confirmed the development, saying absorption brought successful soldiers to support some students and world unit consenting to behaviour the examinations.

“The polytechnic started examinations today, and portion immoderate unit volunteered to participate, the national had threatened to halt the process. That was wherefore absorption brought successful soldiers to support students and staff,” the root said.

The determination followed a September 13 circular by the institution’s Registrar, Hussaini Muhammad Enagi, announcing the suspension of ASUP’s activities connected campus, citing information concerns.

Reacting, Joshua advised national members to vacate the field “for the information of lives and property,” portion insisting that their grievances remained unresolved.

He accused the institution’s absorption of intimidation alternatively than dialogue.

“The allowances, moving into 18 months nether the existent rector and 36 months nether the erstwhile administration, person caused hardship and dampened morale among lecturers. Instead of addressing fiscal obligations, absorption is issuing queries to ASUP executives,” helium alleged.

However, the institution’s Information Officer, Mallam Abubakar Dzukogi, dismissed claims that soldiers were deployed to supervise examinations.

“This is simply a civilian matter. I went circular the introspection centres and did not spot soldiers. Management lone ensured the introspection was held contempt the union’s strike,” Dzukogi said, explaining that lone immoderate directors of the polytechnic took portion successful the workout aft lecturers withdrew.

The quality has further deepened the standoff betwixt ASUP and the institution’s management, fueling fears of prolonged disruption to the world calendar.