Essential Ndubuisi
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has called for the immediate dismissal of seven university professors who were recently appointed as rectors of Federal Polytechnics.
The union has described these appointments as illegal and has warned university professors against applying for the position of polytechnic rector. According to ASUP, the appointment of university professors as rectors is against the provisions of the Polytechnics Amendment Act 2019.
ASUP’s National President, Dr Anderson Ezeibe, spoke with Vanguard and stated that the union would not relent in ensuring total compliance with the provisions of the law. The Polytechnics Amendment Act 2019 states that anyone who has not served as a chief lecturer in a polytechnic for at least five years cannot be appointed rector of a polytechnic. Dr Ezeibe urged state governments to also domesticate the law to ensure standard in the way polytechnics are run in the country.
Last month, ASUP wrote to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, informing him of the decision of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN), Abuja, relating to the appointment of professors as rectors of some federal polytechnics by the federal government. The court held that the appointment of five individuals as rectors of federal polytechnics was not made in accordance with the law.
Dr Ezeibe noted that the judgment was viewed by ASUP as having immense benefits for the Nigerian polytechnic system. Apart from the five persons, two other federal polytechnics in Kano and Delta states had rectors appointed for them, contrary to the provisions of the Federal Polytechnics Act (2019 Amendment). Dr Ezeibe advised the government to comply with the judgment and the provisions of the law and start the process of appointing new persons as rectors of the schools.
In conclusion, Dr Ezeibe warned that university professors who are struggling to be appointed rectors of polytechnics do not mean well for the system. He alleged that they are only after making money from the polytechnics they want to lead and are not interested in the career progression of others.
