The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State has embarked on a protest over their withheld June 2025 salaries and check-off dues.

The protesting workers on Friday shut down the institution’s liaison office and the lodge of the Rector, Dr Lukman Adegoke in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

NASU accused the rector of executive rascality and abuse of office for disregarding the window given to them to settle out of court when the union went on strike between April 28 and June 30 this year to demand their months of withheld check-off dues.

Bayelsa State Chairman of NASU, Comrade Nelson Ebimie, told newsmen that only two months of the check off dues have been released and described the rector’s actions as overbearing, maintaining that the liaison office would remain under lock and key until the right thing is done for the welfare of his members.

He stated: “There is no way one man will oppress the entire union. First, he stopped our dues without any complaints; when we discussed it, he took us to court. When we were in court he requested for out of court settlement.

“We tried to suspend the strike. Now, what we heard is no work no pay. We thought he was joking, but now he has stopped all NASU members’ salaries.

“On this day, with the national and state council backing, this office remains locked. That means there is no work in here. I want to urge us that everybody should stay alert.

“We are ready to go to all lengths: let us be focused, let us avoid everything that belongs to the school. Our focus is the rector and the council, because the council also refused to advise him.”

NASU Chairman, Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe Branch, Etebu Ebifiye, accused the board of complacency, which paved the way for Dr. Adegoke to carry out his schemes against them unhindered.

Ebifiye emphasised that apart from withholding their salaries and check-off dues, the rector is not worker-friendly, alleging he had deprived many NASU of their appraisals while sacking others.

He said: “The rector is not worker-friendly. He has sacked our brothers and sisters without due process. He directed all the HODs and the deans that NASU members should not be apprised, while the matter was still in court.

“As if that was not enough, he started threatening that he is not going to pay us at the end of June. Not until yesterday did he started paying NASU members and SSANIP members’ salaries.

“He also paid 19 members of NASU; he did not deduct the check-off dues from those 19 members. And for the council chairman, he has been complacent. We are urging the Federal Government to dismiss Dr Agbabiaka and the council chairman.”

On their part, the NASU Chairman, International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality, Yenagoa, Comrade Ozato Ozato; Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri, Angbari Samson; and College of Education, Sagbama, Ebi Alex, condemned the withholding of workers’ salaries, especially given the present economic realities and assured their colleagues of their continued solidarity.

“How can you suspend the salaries of workers in this economy? It is very very bad and that is why we are here. Whatever the Federal Government needs to do to put an end to all these things without delay, they should go ahead and do it.

“For my fellow comrades, I want to assure you people that this trouble is for all of us because today it is Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, we don’t know who will be the next. Whatever it will cost us to see justice is done, we are going to do it.”

When contacted, the media officer, Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Mr Nimizuo Pereseigha, said the Rector, Dr Lukman Adegoke, is out of town and declined to comment on the workers’ action. (Saturday PUNCH)