The ongoing strike by the Non-Academic Staff Union of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osura, took another dimension on Thursday as the members barricaded all the gates leading into the institution to press home their demand for 65 years retirement age.
Students and lecturers rushing for early morning lectures were denied access to the compus as all the gates were barricaded by the aggrieved union members.
The workers in a banner at the gate called on the state government to “please come and salvage the situation by directing the implementation of 65 years retirement age”.
It was gathered that it took the intervention of the chief security officer of the Polytechnic to bring the situation under control as he ordered the gates to be thrown open.
However, all the issues being agitated for by the union are yet to be resolved as the strike enters the second week.
But a lecturer who spoke on condition of anonymity said the strike is a “case of jealousy against the academic staff who were granted 65 years as retirement age”.
He noted that the non-academic staff have gone too far by locking the gates, barring other workers and students from having access to the institution.
He said, “In the university system professors are given 70 years as retirement age. Other academic staff are given 65 years. The other five years is for research and book writing to allow them give back to the academic community their experiences over the years before they retire.
“If the non-academic staff want 65 years, they should change their status to academic staff and enjoy such privilege. They should also write books to contribute to knowledge in the academic community.”
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