The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has rejected the appointment of new rectors and other principal officers for the five of the six newly established polytechnics situated in Enugu, Oyo, Cross River, Plateau, Borno and Benue States.
The union said in a document titled: “Re-appointment of principal officers for the six new Federal Polytechnics,” that the appointment of the Rectors for these polytechnics were in violation of provisions of the Federal Polytechnics (Amendment) Act, 2019.
In a document signed by its President, Anderson Ezeibe, ASUP, claimed that five out of the six new rectors were not qualified, considering the provisions of the Act. having fallen short of the requirements captured in Section 8, 2 (a) 1 of the Act.
According to the letter, the only qualified Rector among the six appointed is that of Oyo, while those appointed for Enugu, Cross River, Plateau, Borno and Benue States, were all not qualified.
Ezeibe said: “Our Union’s attention has been drawn to a recent press statement from the Federal Ministry of Education announcing the appointment of Rectors and other principal officers for the 6 new Federal Polytechnics situated in Enugu, Oyo, Cross River, Plateau, Borno and Benue States.
“The appointment of the Rectors for these polytechnics are in violation of provisions of the Federal Polytechnics (Amendment) Act, 2019 as five out of the six new rectors are not qualified for the provisions, having fallen short of the requirements captured in Section 8, 2 (a) 1 of the Act.
“A rundown of the profiles of the beneficiaries of this latest act of impunity shows that five out of the six persons do not fit into the requirements of the law for the appointment of Rectors in Federal Polytechnics in the Country. These beneficiaries include; the appointees for Federal Polytechnics Ohodo (Enugu), Ugep (Cross River), Shendam (Plateau), Monguno (Borno) and Wannune (Benue).”
The union regretted that the government, through officials of the Federal Ministry of Education has become principal violators of the laws governing the operations of the Nigerian Polytechnics.
“This latest assault is despite the contents of a recent ruling of the National Industrial Court in Abuja, where the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics (Amendment) Act 2019 was affirmed by the court and the Federal Ministry of Education and her officials undertaking to observe the provisions in totality,” Ezeibe said.
He stated that the union had drawn the attention of the Federal Ministry of Education on the need to adhere to the provisions of the law in this appointment process more than one month ago, on a similar issue in a case number: NICN/ABJ/12/2020, involving ASUP and the Attorney General of the Federation, the Minister for Education and 5 others.
He regretted that despite the contents of the judgment of the court, in that case, the Federal Government still embarked on “this recent naked display of impunity.”
Ezeibe added that “This unfortunate development however underlines the essence of our union’s current engagement with the government as we are determined to reverse this ugly trend”.
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