• ASUP drags new Rector to FG, court
By Gabriel Dike
This is certainly not the best of times for the 46-year-old Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State.
The once peaceful polytechnic is now fictionalised due to the appointment of a new rector.
After the appointment of Dr. Basilia Igbokwe, as Rector, some staff including those who contested for the position faulted the selection process. They alleged that the Governing Council, chaired by Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoha, did not follow due process. They picked holes in the three names submitted to the President for approval.
Daily Sun further learnt that Ikoha and a sitting governor bypassed the Minister of Education and took the names to the Presidency for approval.
Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Nekede (ASUPNEK), led by Stanley Nwadike also faulted the process leading to the appointment of a new helmsman for the institution. Staff loyal to the new rector purportedly sacked ASUPNEK executives and appointed a caretaker committee, the action national body said, “is alien to ASUP constitution.”
The national leadership of ASUP insisted on dealing with Nwadike’s led executives: “The constitution of the union does not recognise a caretaker committee.” Some othesr union leaders and staff have gone underground for safety.
Court case
The crisis took another dimension when ASUP in November 2024 sued the Federal Government, Minister of Education, National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), Governing Council and the rector over non-compliance with guidelines for appointment of new rector and violation of the Federal Polytechnic Act 2019.
ASUPNEK axed
The Rector in a memo to the polytechnic community announced the suspension of ASUP check-off dues based on the strength of a letter from the caretaker committee.
The memo, addressed to the Bursar and titled: “Suspension of deductions of ASUPNEK union dues” directed the stoppage of the check-off dues with immediate effect: “I am in receipt of a communication from ASUPNEK Caretaker Committee conveying the resolutions reached during their last congress and to which I refer in writing you.
“Giving the grievances that led to the passing of a vote of no confidence on and subsequent sack of the entire Chapter Executive Council (CEC), I have given approval that further union deductions as requested by them in their letter should stop forthwith.”
Igbokwe said the directive would remain “until when the conflict is resolved and peace is restored on campus.” The letter was copied to Chairman, Governing Council, Registrar, ASUPNEK Caretaker Xommittee (for ASUPNEK congress).
Not done yet, the rector wrote to the bank to stop the operation of the account by the recognised ASUPNEK executives. The letter was titled: “Suspension of withdrawals from ASUPNEK union account in your bank.”
Igbokwe said: “I have given approval that further withdrawals from the ASUPNEK union account domicile in your bank as requested by them in their letter should forthwith stop. The account is placed on lien and remains frozen until the resolution of the conflict.”
ASUP drags Rector to Labour, Education ministries
ASUP thereafter petitioned Ministries of Labour and Employment and Education. After a reconciliatory meeting, the union and government officials signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Signatories to the MoU included Amo Falonipe, Director, Trade Union Services and Industrial Relations; Dr. Ejeh Usman, Director, Polytechnic Education and Shammah Kpanja, National President
Representative of the education ministry informed the union that Igbokwe’s appointment was done in response to the directive from the Presidency. It was resolved that the ministry should escalate the concern of ASUP about non-compliance to court rulings on the violations of the Federal Polytechnics Act (2019 as amended).
Igbokwe was directed to open ASUP Secretariat, restore payment of check-off dues to the Nwadike-led executives, withdraw of her letters to the bank stopping union’s transactions. On the recognition of ASUP executives, the management was asked to refer the issue of conflict in ASUPNEK to its national body for resolution.
A source told Daily Sun that Nekede Polytechnic crisis was discussed and the Rector was directed to rescind all the illegal decisions she took: “As of today, she has rescinded the letter she wrote to the bank. She has also opened the union’s secretariat but she has refused to restore the check-off dues deductions to the recognised union executives.”
The rector was accused of setting up a “committee” made up of her cronies to resolve the ASUPNEK crisis in disregard to ASUP internal mechanism: “The union has also proceeded to court to challenge the rector’s meddlesomeness and actions.”
Another twist
A new twist surfaced as Nwadike was invited for questioning by the police based on petition by the caretaker committee sympathetic to the rector. The invitation dated February 2, 2025, reads: “The department is investigating a case of fraud and conduct likely to cause breach of peach, which the above name Stanley (Nwadike) featured prominently.
“The subject is said to be a staff of yours attached to the School of Engineering Technology (SET), Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering of your institution. You are requested to release him for an interview with the Assistant Commissioner of Police, SID, Owerri, on February 6, 2025, by 10.00am through ASP Benjamin Okonya.
“The invitation is compelled by the law enforcement requirement provided for in Section 53 (2) (a) of Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.”