Date: 2016-10-12

Some concerned staff of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, have expressed worries about the long period it has taken the Federal Government to announce a new rector for the institution.

It therefore urged the government to announce the new rector for the institution.

It, however, advised the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to adhere strictly to the template of the Federal Ministry of Education on the appointment of university vice-chancellor, polytechnic rector and college of education provost in appointing a new rector for Offa Poly.

A statement signed by the spokesperson of the group, Mr. Tajudeen Ayokunle, on Tuesday after a meeting, said the template specifies that a rector must not be more than 55 years old at the time of assuming duty.

He added that the person must be a chief lecturer with at least five-year experience; and that the area of discipline of the applicant must be in any of the programmes run in the polytechnic that awarded the diploma.

He stated that based on the criteria, only three candidates among the seven that have been interviewed for the post are qualified.

Ayokunle said, "We are worried about whether the acting rectorship will continue indefinitely and whether the appointment of a new rector process will never be concluded.

"The federal Ministry of Education and the National Board for Technical Education should not make the stakeholders believe they are conniving with others to arm-twist the system and support/impose illegality, not only on Offa Poly but also on the entire system of education in Nigeria.

"That will be making a mockery of the change initiative of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration."