Education

‘Why We Suspended Proposed ASUP Strike’

Published

11 years ago

March 2, 2015

The Academic Staff
Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has stated the reasons behind the suspension of the nationwide indefinite strike scheduled to have commenced last week.
In a telephone interview with The Tide, the Vice Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Rivers State College of Arts and Science (RIVCAS) Chapter, Dr Enyekit E. Owaji, stated that the reasons were basically because the federal government addressed some of the most pressing issues, and gave assurance to address others.
Among the key issues addressed, Dr Owaji said, is the withdrawal of the circular suspending implementation of the Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure 15 (CONTISS 15) which gave the members of ASUP cause for concern.
Others are the immediate directive given to the councils and management of Federal Polytechnics, Oko and its Ado-Ekiti counterpart to withdraw the circular/statement proscribing/suspending union activities and such circular being publicized in each of the two campuses.
In a bid to address the key issues at stake, the Hon. Minister of Education, Alhaji Abrahim Skekarau, is to convene a tripartite meeting of councils, management of polytechnics and unions to resolve the impasse at Oko and Ado-Ekiti.
Meanwhile, the Hon. Minister, also gave strong assurances to meeting all other demands of ASUP.
On its part, the House of Representatives Committee on Education also gave assurance that the House would soon pass the Polytechnic Act Bill.
According to Dr Owaji, these key decisions were taken last Tuesday when ASUP met with the hon minister and the house committee on education. Consequently, chapters of ASUP nationwide were directed to “Maintain Status quo pending decision on National Executive Council (NEC) scheduled for March 2015 at Bauchi.
It will be recalled that ASUP was billed to embark on an indefinite strike last week following issues bothering on federal government’s inability to fulfil agreement.
Specifically, ASUP picked hole in the federal government’s refusal to honour its agreement with ASUP in 2011 over naming professors in Polytechnics as is done in universities.
They also opposed the decision by the federal government to reduce CONTISS 15 of lecturers to 14.
Dr Owaji further explained that state owned polytechnics joined the strike on a solidarity basis.

Education

UNIPort Senate Grants Two-Year Amnesty to U2010–U2018 Students

Published

8 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Senate of the University of Port Harcourt Rivers state has approved a special two-year amnesty for students admitted between the 2010/2011 and 2018/2019 academic sessions who were unable to complete their programmes within the stipulated period.

This was contained in a statement by the university public relations officer,Dr Sammy Kpenu and made available to the tide over the weekend in port Harcourt.

The statement stated that eligible students are expected to submit formal applications addressed to the Vice Chancellor through their respective Heads of Department for review and necessary consideration.

The statement further stated that the approval provides a renewed opportunity for affected students to return, regularize their academic status, and successfully complete their studies.

According to the statement the amnesty also offers a fresh opportunity to students who had issues related to overstaying or other challenges that forced them to discontinue their programmes, to return and complete their academic pursuits.

The statement however said that the deadline for submission of applications end on 31st May, 2026 and therefore urge the affected students to take full advantage of the window the amnesty provided to realise their academic dreams.

Education

Education Commissioner Seeks media collaboration in Rivers

Published

8 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The River State Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor has called on media practitioners in Rivers State to deploy their various communication platforms toward promoting government programmes and policies aimed at achieving sustainable development in the education sector. Dr. Nwagor made the appeal when members of the Etche Ethnic Practicing Journalists (EEPJ) paid him a courtesy visit in Office in Port Harcourt. The Commissioner emphasized the strategic role of the media in shaping public perception, promoting government initiatives, and supporting policies capable of improving the quality of education and human capital development in the state. According to him, constructive media engagement remains essential in creating public awareness on educational reforms, students’ welfare, infrastructural improvements, and other interventions being implemented by the state government. Speaking on the recent appro

Education

“FPOG Bonny Deepens Learning With Hands-On Expedition to NLNG Nature Park”

Published

3 weeks ago

April 27, 2026

The Tide

Academic expeditions and excursions take learning beyond the classroom, fostering personal growth, cultural understanding, and hands-on engagement with history, science, and nature. For the Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny, such outings are a strategic tool for bridging theory with practice.

On Saturday, April 18, 2026, the Department of Science Laboratory Technology led students on an academic excursion to the NLNG Nature Park in Bonny. The team was led by the Head of Unit, Elizabeth Jumbo, alongside Ikor Peter, Usman Thaha, and Elekwachi Progress. The trip was designed to connect classroom instruction with real-life experiences.

According to the department, the excursion sought to deepen learning by linking theoretical knowledge with tangible, real-world exposure. The exercise also aimed to enhance student engagement and retention while promoting social-emotional skills such as collaboration and empathy. It further catered to diverse learning styles among the students.

Academic excursions offer clear benefits. Abstract concepts become concrete when students encounter them firsthand. A history lesson comes alive in a museum, while scientific principles are better understood in natural settings. Such interactive experiences are often more memorable than text-based learning alone.

The outings also build critical soft skills. Trips foster self-confidence, teamwork, communication, and resilience. They broaden cultural awareness and perspective by exposing students to new environments and ideas. For many, the experience sparks curiosity, promotes empathy, and can even influence future career paths.

At its core, the goal is to make learning personal, relevant, and interactive. The Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny says it is committed to providing a compass to academic excellence through active learning, consistent organization, and holistic student well-being. The SLT excursion reflects that approach in action.