Unease over appointment of rector at FEDPOLY Offa

ACADEMIC Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, and the polytechnic community have urged the federal government to announce a substantive rector for the institution without delay.

There was tension on the two campuses of the polytechnic at the weekend over delay in the appointment of rector.

Tribune Education gathered that while members of the local branch of ASUP and other unions were rooting for one of the three recommended candidates from the interview conducted on March 21, 2016 for the post of rector, a group that calls itself Concerned Group said the exercise lacked credibility.

The development had made ASUP members and the polytechnic community to urge the Federal Government to announce the substantive rector without delay.

Speaking with journalists on the mini campus of the polytechnic at the weekend, the branch chairman of ASUP, Dr Sola Adeniyi, wondered why the Federal Government was foot-dragging in announcing the rector.

“The question is: what is the basis for the lethargy on the part of the Federal Government in announcing the rector? ASUP has spoken, NASU has spoken, SUG has spoken. All other voices are noises, and the Federal Government should in the interest of peace and industrial harmony at the polytechnic should stop listening to the noises.

“We wish to reiterate that the process that produced the three recommended candidates from screening, shortlisting and interview are credible. Due process was followed and the results are acceptable to us.

“The interview was conducted by chartered professionals and experts; and chaired by the permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education. The executive secretary of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), two representatives of the Federal Character Commission, two democratically elected representatives of the academic board of the polytechnic and representatives of all other relevant agencies concerned were on the panel of the interview.

“The interview panel has done a good job. As such, the exercise has been variously described as credible, free and fair. One of the three recommended candidates has been acting in the capacity of rector since February since 2016. Apart from her impressive credentials, she has been acting creditably well.”