By Oyintokoni Joel, Yenagoa
The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, SSANIP, and the Non-Academic Staff Union, NASU, Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri, have dissociated themselves from the planned protest by the Higher Institutions Joint Action Committee, HIJAC, over the reappointment of the Rector of the institution.
In a joint statement signed by Sarah Alamene for SSANIP and Samson Amgbare for NASU, the unions said while they remain committed to the legitimate welfare demands of workers, they were not in support of including the Rector’s reappointment in the issues for protest.
According to the unions, they are in full support of HIJAC demands relating to earned allowances, promotion and step-increment arrears, salary arrears, improved staff welfare and career progression.
They however expressed strong opposition to the inclusion of the Rector’s reappointment among issues for which collective protest or industrial action is being contemplated.
“The matter of the Rector’s reappointment falls within the purview of the appropriate institutional and administrative authorities, including the Governing Council and the State Government. Consequently, SSANIP and NASU, Bayelsa State Polytechnic, do not consider it appropriate for our unions or members to be presented as supporting, endorsing, or participating in any protest specifically directed at the Rector’s reappointment,” the statement said.
The unions stated that for the avoidance of doubt, they were neither consulted nor did they authorize the inclusion of the Rector’s reappointment in the HIJAC position or ultimatum.
“Accordingly, members of SSANIP and NASU at Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri, should not be represented as participants in, or supporters of, any protest or collective action specifically targeted at the Rector’s reappointment,” they added.
They emphasized that their position should not be misconstrued as a rejection of HIJAC or its legitimate objectives, stressing that on matters relating to welfare, salaries, allowances and working conditions, they remain committed to HIJAC and support every lawful effort to secure workers’ entitlements.
The unions maintained that the Rector’s reappointment should be addressed through appropriate institutional, administrative and legal channels rather than being presented as a collective position of non-teaching staff.
“Consequently, the non-teaching staff of Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri, under the aegis of SSANIP and NASU, will not participate in any peaceful protest, demonstration, or other collective action arising specifically from or directed at the Rector’s reappointment,” the statement concluded.
They reaffirmed commitment to industrial harmony, constructive engagement and peaceful resolution of labour matters, and urged stakeholders to respect the distinct positions of various unions and not attribute to them any unauthorized action.
