Striking members of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic on Thursday barricaded all the gates of the institution to demand a retirement age of 65 for their members.

Our correspondent reports that students and lecturers arriving for early morning lectures were denied access to the campus as the gates were barricaded by the aggrieved union members.

The workers displayed a placard at the gate, calling the state government to ?please come and salvage the situation by directing the implementation of a 65-year retirement age.?

It was reported that the intervention of the Chief Security Officer of the Polytechnic was required to bring the situation under control. He ordered the gates to be opened to prevent the situation from escalating.

Reacting, a lecturer who wished to remain anonymous said the strike was driven by jealousy towards the academic staff, who have a retirement age of 65.

He added that the workers went too far by locking the school gates.

He said, ?In the university system, professors are given a retirement age of 70 years, while other academic staff have 65 years. The additional five years are for research and writing books, allowing them to contribute their experiences to the academic community before retiring.

?If the non-academic staff want a 65-year retirement age, they should change their status to academic staff and enjoy such privileges. They should also write books to contribute to knowledge in the academic community.? (The PUNCH)