By Admin:
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has accused the Committee of Federal Rectors (COFER) of meddling in union affairs through a deliberate misinterpretation of the Trade Union Act.
Speaking with journalists in Offa, Offa Local government area of Kwara state , the zonal coordinator, ASUP ZONE C, Dr. Masopa Nurudeen, said that the recent directive issued by COFER on April 17, 2025, asking rectors of federal polytechnics to enforce a disputed interpretation of the Trade Union Act (2006), showed a disregard for responsibilities and limits.
“The Trade Union Act has been operational since 2006 for all trade unions, including those in universities, polytechnics, and Colleges of Education. It is unfortunate that COFER, which is not a statutory body, is now attempting to interpret the law in a manner that undermines unionism”, the union stated.
ASUP also said that COFER, a subset of polytechnic heads, under the umbrella of COHEAD, lacked supervisory, regulatory, or legal authority to interpret laws, describing their action as meddlesome and baseless.
The Union said the staff members are employees of the federal government, and had consented to union membership during the IPPIS enrollment.
ASUP, which said that the rectors involved are themselves federal employees and members of ASUP, which according to the union, disqualified them from dictating union affairs.
The union particularly condemned the role of the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, describing his action as a betrayal.
“Without mincing words, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Offa has acted in the most disappointing way as he was a former Chairman of the Union and had also contested for the President of ASUP (twice) and hence to have been better informed than to take steps that will undermine the Union. It must also be made clear that it is the opinion of the Union that the conduct of the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Offa is in retaliation to complaints/agitations of the Union which primarily boarders on maladministration” the union argued.
ASUP demanded immediate withdrawal of COFER’s directive and an apology, adding that the Union would use legal and industrial means to protect its integrity and membership.
