YABATECH ASUP asks Buhari to appoint Rector for institution

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) branch, at the weekend, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a substantive Rector for the institution before leaving office on May 29, 2023.

ASUP Chairman of YABATECH, Ojo Monday, while speaking with The Guardian, said the process of selecting a substantive Rector for the College started and was successfully concluded in November 2022 and three names, Dr. Abdul Ibrahim, Dr. Lauretta Ofodile and Dr. Okesoto Olabanji, were forwarded to the Federal Government by the Governing Council of the College as stipulated in the Polytechnic Act (Amended 2019), but no communication ever since.

He lamented that six months after, the substantive Rector has not been appointed for the College, adding that apart from Acting Rector, the Registrar and Deputy Rector (Academics) are still in an acting capacity.

He said: “We are calling on the Federal Government to expedite action on the appointment of a substantive The Acting Rector has limited powers. A number of important decisions could not be reached and it is affecting effective running of the system. We should be at the forefront, and assume the leadership role for other institutions to learn and copy from. The first should remain the best.

“We are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a substantive Rector before the expiration of his tenure on May 29, 2023. The whole community is waiting for the announcement.

“We have done our best by making recommendations and every other action is left with the Federal Government. So, to avoid a setback, it’s better it is done now.

“The system currently lacks a lot of human and capital development. It is our hope that the new administration will increase the intervention funds so that it will enhance capital development of the school. Also, members of staff welfare is also important.