Academic activities were paralysed at Federal Polytechnic Offa on Monday as the Students' Union Government (SUG) shut the institution's gates over unresolved welfare concerns.

The shutdown affected both the Mini Campus and the Permanent Site, preventing students from accessing lecture halls and other academic facilities.

The decision was conveyed in a circular signed by the SUG President, Abdulazeez Olanrewaju, popularly known as Achiever, who said the action followed what the union described as management's failure to address key demands despite previous engagements.

"Despite previous engagements and appeals, these concerns remain unattended to, thereby affecting the academic welfare and well-being of students," the statement read.

Among the grievances raised was the lack of clarity surrounding the implementation of the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme.

"There is no proper clarity on the implementation of the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme, and students are left uncertain about what benefits they are entitled to," the union stated.

The SUG also alleged that the institution's clinic was poorly equipped to cater for students, citing inadequate drugs, insufficient medical equipment and poor service delivery.

The union further decried overcrowded lecture halls, attributing the situation to increased admissions without a corresponding expansion in infrastructure.

"The growing population of admitted students without adequate classroom spaces has led to congested lecture halls that hinder effective teaching and learning," it said.

On school fees enforcement, the SUG maintained that while it recognised the need for compliance, the current approach did not reflect prevailing economic realities.

"While we acknowledge the need for students to meet their financial obligations, the enforcement of the 'No School Fees, No Entry/No Test' policy must reflect understanding of the economic hardship faced by students and their families," the statement added.

In the circular addressed to faculty and departmental presidents, the SUG directed immediate mobilisation of students and full compliance with the shutdown, urging them to remain peaceful and law-abiding during the protest.

As of press time, the institution's management had yet to issue an official response to the development.