By Mudiaga Affe
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has berated the Federal Government over the appointment of five unqualified rectors in the newly established six Federal Polytechnics in the country.

National President of ASUP, Anderson Ezeibe, stated this on Wednesday at the 100th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State.

Ezeibe said that the appointment of the five unqualified rectors in the newly established polytechnics was against the polytechnic act of 2019.

According to him, to be qualified for a rectorship position, such a person must be a Chief Lecturer with at least a minimum of five years in any of the polytechnics.

“Recently the Federal Government announced into existence six new Federal polytechnics, one in Cross River State, Oyo, Plateau, Benue, and Borno States.

“And in the Federal polytechnics Amendment Act 2019, the qualification to the appointment of 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 experience in any Nigeria polytechnics.

“Unfortunately five out of the six rectors that were appointed into this newly established polytechnic are neither chief lecturers, neither are they from any of this polytechnic in Nigeria.

“What it means is that they have fallen short of the qualifications required to be in that office” Ezeibe lamented.

The ASUP president disclosed that the union had already approached the court over the matter to seek redress over the appointment.

“The union is already in court with the Federal Government on the matter, that was what I was talking about. We have already served them, the appointing authority, that is the president through substituted means in one of the national dailies.

Strike action remains indefinite until FG meets our demands – ASUP

“And we have gotten an order of the court to serve them by substituted means and of course, to join this five persons appointed as rectors into these polytechnics”, he said.

The ASUP national president called on the Edo State Government to pay five months salary arrears owed to the workers of Edo State Polytechnic, Usen.

The Edo State Deputy Governor, Philips Shaibu, who was represented by his Deputy Cheif of Staff, Mr. Jimoh Ijegbai, said that the government was aware of the lingering labor issues at the Edo Polytechnic, Usen, saying that adequate steps were being taken to address it.

”That issue still lingering at Edo State Polytechnic, Usen will soon be a thing of the past” he assured.

The deputy governor thanked the Union for their cooperation and patience with the government in finding lasting solutions to challenges in Polytechnic education in Nigeria.

The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Mustapha Zubair, lamented the poor rating of Polytechnic in Nigeria, saying that the Polytechnic act has criteria specific for Polytechnic which the manager’s in the sector strive to accomplish.

He urged the Union to choose dialogue In pursuing their agitation, adding that the just concluded strike by the Union yielded positive results following the release of N15bn for the development of Polytechnics in Nigeria