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Tag: Rectors

  • ASUP seeks removal of rectors sacked by court, writes minister

    ASUP seeks removal of rectors sacked by court, writes minister

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, has written to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, over the sack of five rectors in federal polytechnics by the National Industrial Court, NICN, Holden in Abuja.

    Recall that NICN had ordered the sack of five rectors appointed by the federal government.

    The judge, Justice Obaseki Osaghae ruled that the appointment of the five rectors namely Dr Terlumun Utser of the Federal Polytechnic, Wannune; Prof Edwin Onyeneje of the Federal Polytechnic, Ohodo; Prof Edward Okey of the Federal Polytechnic, Ugep; Dr Zakari Ya’u of the Federal Polytechnic, Shendam; and Prof Garba Ngala of the Federal Polytechnic, Mungonu were not made in accordance with the law.

    The federal polytechnics Amendment Act 2019 stipulates that to be qualified for appointment as 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 of experience in any Nigerian polytechnic.

    In the letter to Adamu dated March 24, 2023, ASUP’s national president, Anderson Ezeibe said, “The suit was instituted by our Union at the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Abuja Judicial Division before Her Lordship, Hon.Justice. A. OBASEKI-OSAGHAE following their purported appointment in 2021 as Rectors of the respective Federal Polytechnics contrary to the clear provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act (2019 Amendment).

    “Judgment has been delivered in the suit in agreement with our Union’s contention that the persons so appointed do not have the requisite qualification captured in the law to be so appointed amongst other declarations of the court. This judgment is viewed by our

    Union is one with immense benefits for the Nigeria Polytechnic System.

    “In view of the foregoing, and in respect of an earlier consent judgment delivered in another suit NICN/ABJ/12/2020 (Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics vs Attorney General of the Federation and 6 Ors) where the Federal Ministry of Education undertook to ensure compliance to the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act by operators in the sector”.

    Listing the demands of the union in line with the court judgement, ASUP said, “We hereby request the following: Immediate derecognition of the affected persons as Rectors of the affected

    Polytechnics; a directive to the Governing Councils of the affected Polytechnics to commence the process for the appointment of new Rectors for the affected Polytechnics in accordance to the law”.

    The minister could not be immediately reached for comments. However, findings by our correspondent revealed that the National Board for Technical Education, the regulatory body for polytechnics in the country acknowledged receipt of the letter.

  • Trouble looms as ASUP rejects five ‘unqualified rectors’ appointed by FG in new polytechnics

    Trouble looms as ASUP rejects five ‘unqualified rectors’ appointed by FG in new polytechnics

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has accused the Federal Government of appointing five unqualified persons as rectors in newly established federal polytechnics, in violation of the subsisting Act.

    The ASUP National President, Mr Anderson Ezeibe, who stated this at the 100th National Executive Council meeting of the union in Auchi, on Wednesday, said that the Federal Government violated the Federal polytechnics Amendment Act, 2019, in the appointment of the rectors.

    According to him, the law allowed for only people within the cadre of Chief Lecturer, with a minimum of five years experience to be appointed.

    “Recently, the Federal Government announced the establishment of six new federal polytechnics in Cross River, Oyo, Plateau, Benue and Borno States.

    “Five out of the six rectors that were appointed into these newly established polytechnics did not possess the requisite qualifications,” he said, adding that the union had already gone to court to challenge the appointments.

    “We have an order of court for substituted service, we also have an order to join the five persons appointed illegally,” he said.

    Speaking further, the ASUP president urged the Edo state government to pay the five months salary arrears owed staff of the State Polytechnic.

    In his speech, the Deputy Governor, Mr Philips Shaibu said the state government was aware of the lingering labour issues at the state polytechnic and that adequate steps were being taken to address the issues.

    Represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr Jimoh Ijegbai, the deputy governor commended the union for its cooperation and patience with the government in the face of the crisis.

    Mustapha Zubair, Rector, Auchi Polytechnic, expressed worry over the low ratings of polytechnics in the country, noting that the Polytechnic Act had well established criteria which, those in charge of the sector should endeavour to uphold.

    The rector urged ASUP to always adopt dialogue in seeking redress, saying, “dialogue is the best tool in making agitations”.

    “The just concluded strike by the union has yielded positive results, N15 billion has been released for the development of polytechnics in Nigeria,” he said.

    Earlier, Mr Lawani Jimoh, Chairman, Auchi Polytechnic chapter of ASUP, said that industrial harmony was gradually being built between the union and the polytechnic’s management.

    “We are looking forward to the implementation of CONTISS 15 migration for the lower cadre officers in August.

    “We (also) expect management to reciprocate by paying the promotion arrears of staff promoted in 2016,” he said.

  • Polytechnic lecturers flay appointment of Rectors

    Polytechnic lecturers flay appointment of Rectors

    The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) says the recent appointment of Rectors for six new Federal Polytechnics is a violation of the provision of the Federal Polytechnics (Amendment) Act, 2019.

    Mr Anderson Ezeibe, the National president of ASUP said this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

    The Federal Ministry of Education had in a statement recently announced the appointment of Rectors and other principal officers for the six new Federal Polytechnics situated in Enugu, Oyo, Cross River, Plateau, Borno and Benue states.

    ”The appointment of Rectors for these polytechnics are in violation of provisions of the Federal Polytechnics (Amendment) Act, 2019.

    “Five out of the six new Rectors are not qualified for the positions having fallen short of the requirements captured in Section 8, 2 (a) i 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 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).

    ”It is regrettable that the government, through officials of the Federal Ministry of Education has become principal violators of the laws governing the operations of Nigerian Polytechnics.

    ”This latest assault, in spite of 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 its official undertook to observe the provisions in totality,” he said.

    ASUP president noted that the unfortunate development however under minded the essence of the union’s current engagement with the government.

    He, however, said that the union was determined to reverse the ugly trend of administering Nigerian Polytechnics outside extant laws and regulations.

    He said that with this latest development, the Nigerian public should hold the government responsible for any escalation of “our union’s current industrial action toward a protracted crisis’’.

    ”We are therefore demanding the withdrawal of these appointments so as to usher in a process of appointment in alignment with the provisions of the law.

    ”This shall also serve as a confidence boosting measure in resolving the union’s current dispute with the government,” he said.