By Gabriel Dike
A major crisis is brewing at Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, over the appointment of a substantive rector for the 30-year-old institution. Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, is alleged to have rejected the approval of President Muhammadu Buhari on a new helmsman for the polytechnic.
Following the conclusion of the selection exercise by the selection board and the governing council to ratify the process, three candidates were recommended to Buhari.
Six months after the interview was conducted, staff, students and the institution’s community have been waiting and the situation is already generating ripples.
The letter to the council read: “Having carefully conducted the interview and thoroughly guided by the new National Board for Technical Education template on the appointment of rector for federal polytechnics, the selection board unanimously recommends the underlisted candidates in order of merit, Dr. Raji Sarafa, first with 80.8 per cent, Dr. Kadiri Kamoru, second with 79.9 per cent, and Dr. Akinde Mukail, third with 75.4 per cent.
“The board is of the opinion that the recommendation, if adopted, would assist the council in taking a well-guided position in recommending to the Visitor to the polytechnic, the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buahri, through the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu for final approval.
“It is our hope that the recommendation of the board would go a long way in assisting the governing council in appointing a credible candidate for the exalted position of the rector of this great polytechnic.’’
The Education Report gathered that the governing council recommended three candidates to President Buahri on the order of merit. They are Dr. Raji Sarafadeen (80.8 per cent); Dr Kadiri Kamoru (79.9 percent) and Dr Akinde Mukail (75.4 percent).
Against all expectations, the education minister recommended Dr Kamoru, who placed scored with 79.9 percent in the interview. Adamu’s decision was rejected by President Buhari and the battle has shifted to the presidency.
The presidency on March 30th, 2022 via a letter from the office of Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, overruled the decision of the minister of education.
The letter reads: ‘’With reference to your letter DHE/POLYXV/CIVII/781 dated 1st February 2022, I write to convey to you Mr. President’s approval for the appointment of Dr. Sarafa Adebayo Raji, on merit as the rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, for a single tenure of five years with effect from 28th March 2022.’’
One of the union leaders told The Education Report that the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu is playing a game and wondered how he would seat on the approval of the president since February.
He recalled that the appointment of substantive rectors in four federal polytechnics were part of demands that led to the recent national strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP). He said letters of appointment have been released to others except Offa Polytechnic.
According to him, based on the new Polytechnic Act, Section 12, the governing council is empowered to appoint acting rector for six months only, adding, “in the case of Offa Polytechnic, the acting rector’s tenure expired in June 2022 and the council wrongly renewed his appointment.”
The Education Report further gathered that the polytechnic is currently without a Deputy Rector and Registrar. The tenure of the two principal officers expired few months ago and has not been filled.
Recalled the Governing Council of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa in January 2022 approved the appointment of Dr. Olarongbe Afolabi as the acting Rector of the institution and the tenure ended in June.