By Daniel Njienue, July 18, 2021, News/comments
EDO-The appointment of 5- new Rectors by the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari in the Country Polytechnics has triggered legal action as, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) accused Federal Government of what they described as violation of Polytechnic guidelines in appointing Rectors, stating however that rather than Mr. President, to follow due process established for the appointment, he ignored it and acted against it. The ASUP National President, Comrade Anderson Ezeibe, who disclosed this on Wednesday in Edo state, condemned it in a strong term, while noting that the five new Rectors appointed out of six is not only illegal but unjustifiable and , and that the Union has filed a suit on it. “This was part of the resolutions taken at the 100th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of Union held in Auchi, Edo state” he added.
Comrade Ezeibe
Meanwhile, Ezeibe, who justified why the Union went to court further reiterated, that, to qualify for appointment as Rector in the Polytechnic system, such an individual must be a chief lecturer, at least with a minimum of five years in the system. The full statement reads:
“Recently the Federal Government announce into existence six new Federal polytechnics, one in Cross River State, Oyo, Plateau, Benue, and Borno State. And in the Federal polytechnics Amendment Act 2019, the qualification for the appointment of a rector in any of the polytechnics in Nigeria, such a person shall be a Chief lecturer and must have not less than five years’ experience in any Nigeria polytechnics.Unfortunately five out of the six rectors that were appointed into this newly established polytechnics are neither chief lecturers nor from any of the polytechnics in Nigeria”
“What it means is that they have fallen short of the qualifications required to be in that office.
“The Union is already in court with the Federal Government on the matter that was what I was talking about. We have already served them the appointing authority that is the president through substituted means in one of a national daily. And we have gotten an order of the court to serve them by substituted means and of course to join this five persons appointed as rectors into these polytechnics,” he stressed.
On the lingering issue of non-payment of five months’ Salary to lecturers in Edo state Polytechnic, Useni, Ezeibe appealed to the state government to see to the urgent payment of the arrears. Reacting to it is the representative of the Deputy Governor of Edo State, who is the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Jimoh Ijegbai, said that the government was aware of the lingering Labour issues at the Edo Polytechnic, Usen, stating that urgent steps are being taken to settle it amicably.” That issue still lingering at Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, will soon be a thing of the past.” he said.
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