Industrial unrest threatens Federal Polytechnic Offa after the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) issued an ultimatum to the institution's governing council over its decision to hold meetings outside the campus.

In a statement by Branch Chairman Dr Idowu Atilola on Thursday, ASUP condemned the council's ongoing meeting in Lagos, demanding its immediate cancellation and a formal apology to the polytechnic community. The union warned that continued off-campus meetings held despite repeated warnings would trigger industrial action.

"The union's attention has been drawn to the council's fixation on holding meetings beyond the polytechnic's premises," Dr Atilola stated. "This practice disregards institutional protocols and undermines the dignity of our community. We demand immediate cancellation of the Lagos meeting and a written apology from the council."

ASUP highlighted that previous appeals to conduct meetings on campus had yielded no resolution, escalating tensions over perceived disrespect to staff and students. The union's stance signals a critical breakdown in governance relations at the Kwara State institution.

"Let it be on record that this conduct was first observed in May and the Union sent soft warnings but the management seems to have lost all regards for rules and regulations.

"It is also important to note that the current Governing Council has conspicuously left matters of staff welfare and the polytechnic's progress unattended to, they have refused to reply letters of complaints by the Union and most unfortunately, they have even refused to give audience to the Union on matters of serious concern.

"It would have been expected that Engr. Kamoru Kadiri and Engr. Waheed Balogun should have guided the Council properly (being former Union leaders) towards proper conduct but they seem to have chosen a different path.

"The Registrar who is supposed to be an interpreter of rules has also hypocritically compromised his good stand for personal gains.

"No wonder Federal Polytechnic Offa has now become a shadow of itself.

"Consequently, the Union is demanding for an immediate cancellation of the Council meeting currently being held in Lagos and also a letter of apology to the polytechnic community from the Council.

"We will not close our eyes and allow where we earn a living to be destroyed," the statement added.