Teachers in Offa Federal Polytechnic, under the aegis of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), have issued a 15-day strike notice over the delay in the appointment of a new rector for the institution.

The notice was signed by the branch Chairman of the union, Moses Atilola and General Secretary, Yemi Alabi, on Monday, October 24, 2022.

The union, in the notice, which was addressed to the chairman of the governing council of the institution, stressed that the non-appointment of a new rector was not only stalling the academic activities of the institution but also causing untold hardship for the entire academic community.
According to ASUP, the branch will proceed on indefinite action if a substantive Rector is not appointed within the next 15 days, counting from October 24, 2022.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that there had been a tussle between the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu and the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, over the position.

While President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the appointment of Dr. Raji Sarafa Adebayo as the substantive rector, the Minister of Education declined to issue the letter of appointment as the supervisory ministry.

Raji was recommended for the position by the governing board of the polytechnic after he emerged as the best out of those that contested for the top job.

Apart from emerging as the best, Raji is also an indigene of the ancient town of Offa.

While Gambari wrote the approval of the President to Adamu to issue an appointment letter to that effect, the minister blatantly refused to issue such a letter but claimed that another candidate that came second is more appropriate for the job.