ASUP berates FG over appointment of five inexperienced rectors

UNIPORT new VC flays rising cost of running varsities, initiate financial reforms

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has berated the Federal Government over the appointment of five inexperienced rectors in the newly established six federal polytechnics in the country.

National President of ASUP, Anderson Ezeibe, stated this yesterday during the 100th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State.

Ezeibe said the appointment of five unqualified rectors in the newly established polytechnics was against the Polytechnic Act of 2019.

He said to be qualified for rector position, such a person must be a Chief Lecturer with at least a minimum of five years experience in any polytechnic.

“In the Federal Polytechnics Amendment Act 2019, for a person to be appointed rector in any of the polytechnics in Nigeria, such a person should be a Chief Lecturer and must have at least five years experience in any Nigeria polytechnic.

“Unfortunately, five of the six rectors appointed in the new polytechnics are neither chief lecturers, nor named from any polytechnic in the country. What that means is that the government has degraded the requirements for that office,” he said.

Ezeibe, who disclosed that ASUP had already approached the court to seek redress over the appointments, urged the Edo State Government to pay five months salary arrears owed the employees of the Edo State Polytechnic, Usen.

The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philips Shaibu, who was represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Jimoh Ijegbai, said the government was aware of the lingering labour issues at the Edo Polytechnic, Usen, saying that adequate steps were being taken to address them.

Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Mustapha Zubair, lamented the poor rating of polytechnics in the country, saying that the Polytechnic Act provided specific terms of reference, which the managers of the sector were striving to accomplish.

IN another development, the new Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof. Owunari Georgewill, has bemoaned the rising cost of running universities in the country, saying the management of the institution has concluded arrangements to set up advancement team to pursue resources and initiate financial reforms.

He said the rising cost of running universities through capital outlay from government and private individuals was affecting their ability to meet their obligations in a satisfactory manner.

The new VC stated this yesterday in his inaugural address, adding his administration would set up an advancement strategic team headed by him to vigorously pursue resource mobilisation from government, donors, agencies and international oil companies, among others, to achieve the desired results in the university.

Owunari, who is the ninth VC of the institution also disclosed that the university would enact a policy through its Senate on technology-driven teaching to ensure that all academic staff use technology in their teaching through training and retraining, especially considering the COVID-19.

“This admiration will improve the online visibility of the university through policies that will ensure that all activities of, faculties, departments and institutes are uploaded regularly on its website. We will also ensure coordinated and concerted efforts to improve access to research funding by the central faculties, departmental research teams, research grants secured by staff members shall be harmonised and judiciously used,” he said.