ASUP sues FG over appointment of five rectors

President of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Mr Anderson Ezeibe, on Wednesday, said that the body has approached the court to seek redress over the appointment of five unqualified rectors for newly established polytechnics in the country by the federal government.

Ezeibe, who stated this at the 100th National Executive Council meeting held at the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, said the appointment is against the Polytechnic Act 2019.

He said, “The union is already in court with the Federal Government on the matter. We have already served them, the appointing authority, that is the presidency, through substituted means in one of national dailies.

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

The ASUP president who berated the Federal Government over the appointment said 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-year experience in any Nigeria polytechnics.

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

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