By Oluwole Solanke, PhD, FCIB
The ongoing conflict between the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) and the institution’s management under Engr. Kamoru Kadiri, which has now escalated to the National Industrial Court, carries significant implications for various stakeholders:
For Students
The most immediate victims of this impasse are students, who face potential disruptions to their academic calendar. Labor disputes in tertiary institutions typically result in strike actions, suspended lectures, delayed examinations, and extended graduation timelines. Students who have invested time and resources in their education may find themselves caught in a conflict beyond their control, with their academic progress and career prospects hanging in the balance.
For Academic Staff
ASUP members now operate in a climate of uncertainty and intimidation. The reference to “victimization” and disciplinary proceedings creates a toxic work environment that undermines academic freedom and staff morale. Talented academics may seek opportunities elsewhere, leading to brain drain. The judicial process, while necessary for protecting their rights, also creates stress and diverts energy from teaching and research responsibilities.
For Management and Governing Council
The management’s credibility has been called into question, particularly regarding allegations of reneging on the May 12, 2025 agreements. Court proceedings will consume institutional resources—both financial and administrative—that could be better deployed for academic development. The situation also exposes potential governance failures and raises questions about leadership competence. A court ruling against the institution could result in financial penalties, reputational damage, and forced policy reversals.
For Deans and Directors (The Silent Mediators)
The conspicuous silence of those who “brokered peace” on May 12, 2025 is particularly troubling. Their inaction suggests either complicity with management’s alleged victimization, fear of reprisal, or a troubling abdication of moral responsibility. This silence erodes their credibility as honest brokers and middle-level leaders, creating a leadership vacuum at a critical moment when bridge-building is most needed.
For Parents and Guardians
Families who have made significant financial sacrifices to educate their children face the prospect of wasted investments if academic sessions are prolonged or disrupted. The uncertainty surrounding program completion affects family planning and financial stability.
For the Institution’s Reputation
Labor disputes that reach the courts signal deep institutional dysfunction to external observers. This damages the polytechnic’s standing among peer institutions, potential students, research partners, and employers. Accreditation bodies may view the instability unfavorably, potentially affecting program approvals and quality ratings.
For the Broader Polytechnic Sector
This conflict reflects systemic issues in polytechnic governance across Nigeria—weak industrial relations frameworks, autocratic management styles, and the marginalization of union input in decision-making. It reinforces negative perceptions about polytechnic education and may influence policy discussions about the sector’s future.
The Way Forward
Several stakeholders must act urgently:
The Silent Deans and Directors must break their silence and reconvene dialogue based on the May 12 agreements they facilitated. Their continued neutrality in the face of alleged agreement violations makes them complicit in the crisis.
Management and Governing Council should demonstrate good faith by respecting court orders, honoring previous agreements, and creating space for genuine dialogue rather than punitive measures against union members.
ASUP Leadership should remain open to structured negotiations while pursuing legal remedies, ensuring that student interests remain paramount even as they fight for staff welfare.
Students should organize constructively to demand that both parties prioritize their educational interests and expedite resolution.
Internal Mediators:
Respected elder statesmen on campus and in academia—should intervene before the situation deteriorates further.
The current trajectory serves no one’s interests. Every day this impasse continues represents a failure of leadership on all sides and inflicts cumulative damage on an institution that exists primarily to serve students and society. The interlocutory injunction provides a window for sober reflection and genuine dialogue—a window that should not be wasted on recriminations and power struggles.
The question now is whether the stakeholders will rise to the occasion or allow the polytechnic to descend further into dysfunction while pointing fingers at each other.
