From Layi Olanrewaju, Ilorin
Students and Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic, Offa yesterday, gave the Federal Government seven days ultimatum to announce the institution’s next rector.
The Federal Polytechnic Offa, has, in the last three months, been operating without a substantive rector.
The tenure of the former rector, Dr Mufutau Olatinwo expired last February.
Addressing reporters in Offa, Offa Local Government Area of the state, Chairman of ASUP, Dr. Sola Ojeniyi said the delay in the appointment of rector was creating unnecessary tension in the school.
Dr. Ojeniyi added that the process of appointment started in December last year “via the placement of advertisement in the Nigerian dailies.
“The process of appointment of a new rector for the polytechnic has been lingering for six months now.
“ASUP, both at the national level and the school’s chapter are at a loss over the unnecessary procrastination on the part of all the agencies involved in the announcement of the appointment…
“Based on these facts, the congress, in line with the position and support of the national body of ASUP, resolved that the union will not welcome anybody from outside the polytechnic system as rector.
“By the time the advertisement was published, the congress in the chapter perused the contents and found the advertisement satisfying the resolution of the union.”
He added: “The union has monitored the relationship among the three applicants who happened to be our members; they have been working harmoniously and none of them has spoken against the exercise.
“It must be stressed that the union and the entire polytechnic community are taken aback with the unfathomable foot-dragging in the announcement. The union believes that the situation in the polytechnic is now different from what we had in 2007 when the polytechnic was enmeshed in serious crisis that precipitated the elongation of the tenure of the then acting rector for several months.”
On his part, Student Union President of the institution, Yusuf Olalekan said, “the delay in the appointment of the rector of the institution has been causing a lot of anxiety on campus.
“I want to debunk the rumour going on that the polytechnic is in crisis.
“As far as the students are concerned, there is no crisis concerning the appointment of a substantive rector for the school. We are giving the Federal Government seven days to announce without delay the rector of the polytechnic. amongst the three recommended candidates for appointment.
“As far as we are concerned as students, we will support any of the shortlisted candidates for the job.
“We are ready to work harmoniously with such a person to take our institution to higher heights.
“We are aligning totally with the stance of ASUP,giving a-seven day ultimatum to announce the name of our rector.”