ASUP Requests Urgent Appointment Of Substantive Rector For Offa Poly

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State chapter has requested President Muhammadu Buhari to hasten the appointment of a substantive rector for the institution to ensure its smooth running and a good relationship among its stakeholders.

Moses Atilola, the chapter’s Chairman made this call while speaking with journalists in Offa on Wednesday.

According to Atilola, ASUP, which is a stakeholder of the polytechnic has made the request for the appointment of a Substantive Rector for the institution through letters and visits as well as informal communication with the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu.

“There is no ambiguity in the position that all necessary constitutional and statutory procedures have been fulfilled in satisfaction of the requisite conditions precedent to the appointment of substantive Rector at the Polytechnic.

“From the advertisement declaring the position vacant and request for applications, constitution of a Search Team (which performed their function by shortlisting candidates for interview).

“We also put in place a Selection Board (which also completed their task by cross examining the short-listed candidates) and the final recommendation of three (3) most successful candidates to the Visitor through the Minister of Education since January 2022.

“The case of Federal Polytechnic Offa is somewhat unique as the institution is confronted with enormous challenges that only the appointment of a substantive Rector can rectify,” Atilola explained.

In explaining the challenges faced by the institution, the ASUP Chairman said the polytechnic has been under the leadership of an acting rector since January 2022, exceeding the legal six months expected of such an arrangement.

He said this development has negatively affected the proper functioning of the polytechnic

Atilola also said the death of the Registrar of the institution brought about the appointment of an Acting Registrar, noting that the position of the Deputy Rector Academics who also retired has been vacant ever since. 

He maintained that if the position is not filled at the end of the acting rector's tenure in January 2023, the institution will be in a full-blown crisis.

“These to mention but a few have left the polytechnic in serious disarray and the peace of the graveyard that has so far been managed by the Union might in no distant time culminate into a full-blown crisis if immediate steps are not taken to appoint a substantive Rector who can lay most matters to rest,” Atilola added.

It was reported that the former rector of the institution, Dr Abdullateef Olatunji, retired on January 11, while Dr Afolabi Olarongbe assumed office on January 12, 2022.