ALLEGED CERTIFICATE RACKETEER: ASUP DSPG Chapter Embarks on 14-Day Warning Strike Over State Govt. Failure To Resolve Lingering Crisis

....... Makes Seven Demands

By Double Pen 

Worried by the unresolved alleged certificate racketeering saga for over eight months on, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Ogwashi-Uku chapter, has embarked on a two-week strike over state government failure to resolve the lingering crisis that has negatively impacted the institution and management, among other colleagues.

Addressing journalists after an indoor meeting, the Chairman, ASUP DSPG chapter, Comrade (Dr.) Michael Ogana said the two-week warning strike becomes imperative following the state government's refusal to take decisive actions in the lingering crisis between the Governing Council and the management of the polytechnic.

According to him, “Following the refusal of the state government to take decisive actions in the lingering issues between the Governing Council and Management of Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-uku; not regarding several meetings involving the chapter executive council (CEC) of our union, management of the polytechnic, and officials of the state government; and correspondences communicating ultimatums to the state government, it has therefore become imperative that the union embark on a two-week warning strike in the first instance .”

“Recall that in February 2025, the Governing Council of Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku suspended the registrar of the institution on grounds of unverified allegations of result racketeering without the due diligence of investigations, via a letter on the letterhead of the Office of the Chairman of Council and signed by him.”

“The same Governing Council, in a letter dated 4 July 2025 emanating from the office of the Chairman of the Council, suspended the Rector of the institution on grounds of unfounded accusations of financial impropriety, which were later repudiated by the governor, stating that the actions of the Council in the suspensions were outrightly ultra vires."

"These have brought about a manifest daggers-drawn relationship between the Council and Management of the institution, that has apparently become a clog in the wheel of progress of the institution, almost bringing the activities of the school to a halt since over eight months.”

“Another serious cause for concern is the way and manner the issue of the yet-to-be-verified result racketeering has permeated the social media space, bringing the staff and the institution to public disrepute.”

“Our members are the worst hit. When we relate with the world outside, we are no longer able to make bold to say we are staff of Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-uku; while within the work environment. The necessary supplies and resources that make teaching and learning possible have become a far cry.”

"All these have continued, notwithstanding relentless and concerted efforts made by our union to make the government take decisive actions. The ASUP of this chapter therefore suspends its services to the state government for 14 days. This industrial action is embarked on with good hope that before its expiration, the government will do the following:

1. Consider the reports of the committees (Council and Interministerial) that have long concluded their findings, and not continuously constituting series of committees for a single matter.

2. Cause the Nigerian Police and Men of the Force to stop harassing the officers of the institution, especially our members who occupy positions in the institution. This is exigent as Heads of Departments are now (one after the other) invited to the Police Headquarters in Abuja to answer to cases of suspected forged results by students.

3. Call the Governing Council to order and duly communicate to them their mandates and functions. This is to make them operate in the manner that is expected of a Council that governs an academic institution, as obtainable with other tertiary institutions within and outside the state.

4. Imperatively, reconstitute or substitute the Governing Council of the institution; so as to restore peace and smooth running of the institution. This is exigent as there abound a high degree rancour between the Council and Management of the institution; and this has marred the smooth operation of the institution for close to one year now.

5. Recall the registrar of the institution who was recklessly suspended by the governing council and pay back all accrued benefits due him. This is owing to the fact that there was no due process in his suspension, and the allegations against him concerning result racketeering, upon which the suspension is hinged, cannot be substantiated even until now. This is eight months running, even if the suspension letter stipulates a six-month action.

6. Arrest and prosecute the false whistleblower, Raphael Ufua, upon whose action this disgrace and public disrepute have been brought upon the institution and staff of Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-uku. He alleged result racketeering involving principal officers of the institution and blazed it abroad, disdainfully dragging the image of the state institution to muddy waters. Up until now, the little that can be found out points to a mere case of result forgery perpetrated by some persons who are neither management staff nor principal officers of the institution, thereby negating any form of result racketeering in the institution. 

7. Make conscious efforts through the Ministry of Higher Education to address the public on the happenings in Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-uku. This should be targeted at redeeming the image of the institution that is presently in near comatose. The institution has completely been de-marketed, and if nothing is done now, there will no longer be an institution with its known reputable standing as Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-uku.