Residents of Ikot Osurua, the host community of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, blocked the main entrance of the institution on Tuesday to protest the appointment of a non-indigene as the Community Liaison Officer (CLO).
Over 1,000 protesters rejected the CLO and called for the removal of Rector Dr. Moses Umobong, whose tenure is set to expire in the next two months.
They accused him of slashing part-time staff salaries from N50,000 to N30,000, despite the nationwide push for a minimum wage increase, describing the pay cut as a violation of civil service rules.
The protesters stormed the gate at around 7 a.m., chanting war songs and displaying placards with messages such as “CLO Our Right,” “Umobong Worst Rector in History of Akwa Poly,” and “Umobong Slashes Part-Time Workers’ Salary from N50,000 to N30,000.”
The demonstration reportedly disrupted ongoing Students’ Union Government Week activities, as gates were locked and students and staff were denied access to the campus.
When contacted, Rector Umobong expressed regret over the protest, noting that his tenure would soon end. He said he would brief the government on the incident before giving his side of the story.
“I will speak with you in more detail tomorrow. Right now, I need to report this protest to the state government, and I’m not sure when I’ll finish. Let’s meet tomorrow,” he said.
On the 31st of July, Moses Umobong has dismissed claims of a succession crisis at the institution, calling them baseless.
The rumours suggested that he was pushing for a kinsman to succeed him, allegedly favouring the Ibibio ethnic group over others, including the Annangs. Umobong, whose tenure ends in November, stressed that only the state governor has the authority to appoint polytechnic rectors.
Addressing journalists, Umobong described the allegations as politically motivated and “faceless,” noting that all appointments of principal officers are regulated by the governor and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
He highlighted his tenure’s achievements, including securing 100 percent accreditation for all programs, elevating the polytechnic from 99th to second place nationally, and improving staff qualifications, with over 60 PhD holders now employed. Umobong thanked the governor and previous leadership for supporting the institution’s growth and expressed hope that his legacy would be maintained.
