A group, under the aegis of Alliance for the Advancement of Auchi Polytechnic, has called for due process to be followed in the appointment of a substantive rector for the polytechnic.
Its convener, Alhaji Oshiobugie Danjuma, made the call in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City yesterday.
He said the call became necessary to avoid taking the polytechnic back to the “dark days.”
Danjuma further explained that the appointment of a rector with the right requisite would place the first generation polytechnic in a pole position for its planned upgrade to a university.
He said the issue that had caused the dichotomy between the polytechnic and university status must also be considered.
“The authority must try to avoid the issues that have brought about the acrimony between the polytechnic and university graduates in the appointment of a substantive rector in Auchi Polytechnic,” he stated.
He particularly noted that subverting the most qualified person for the rectorship position would not augur well for the nation’s foremost polytechnic.
“We are aware that an interview for the appointment of a substantive rector for the polytechnic has been conducted, and we are also aware that there are Masters’ degrees and PhD holders that were interviewed for the position.
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“Our position is that it will be out of place to appoint a Masters’ degree holder as substantive rector when you have qualified PhD holders. Doing that will not allow the polytechnics to compete favourably with the universities.
“Again, the case of Auchi Polytechnic should not be any different in the country where all rectors are all PhD holders. We, however, need to reiterate here that we are for nobody or anybody, we are only out for the right thing to be done for the betterment of the institution that has been recognised and acknowledged as a first-generation polytechnic in the country.
“Moreover, the planned upgrading of the polytechnic, which bill has received the nod of the National Assembly (NASS), must not be jeopardised just to satisfy some few persons,” he added.
