Professors not eligible as rectors
By Gabriel Dike
The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has made an appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari, to appoint new Yaba Technology College (YABATECH) Rector based on merit.
The union also warned that it will not accept the inclusion of professors as applicants for rector in the polytechnic system insisting the position is solely for Chief Lecturers.
National President of ASUP, Mr. Dutse Usman, disclosed that polytechnic system needs best brain to run its affairs, thus appointment of a rector should be purely on merit.
He said when governing council submits three names for consideration, government should appoint an applicant based on the performance at the selection interview for the vacant position.
Dutse tasked President Buhari not to sacrifice merit on the altar of politics in the appointment of the new rector for YABATECH because “ASUP believes in merit and giving a job to the best hand, so the applicant who placed first in the interview should be considered.”
According to him, YABATECH governing council has scored the applicants based on their performance and submitted three names to government, and whoever came first should be given the job.
“All appointment in the polytechnic system should be on merit. The first person should be picked. Lobby is normal, but the federal government must insist on merit,” he stated.
He condemned the shortlisting of professors from the university system stating that the Polytechnic Act and adverts for such position provides for Chief Lecturers as highest qualification for the job and warned the union would shut down the system if any governing council goes contrary by picking a professor as rector.
Said he: ‘’Some governing council brought in professors for interview for the position of rector. We condemn that, even on this issue alone, ASUP is prepared to shut down the polytechnic system. The law says those applying must be chief lecturer for five years.
At YABATECH, Federal Polytechnic Oko, Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti and Auchi Polytechnic, professors are rushing to take over the position meant for chief lectures in the polytechnic system.
Dutse explained that the National Executive Council (NEC) at its meeting recently at Abia State Polytechnic condemned state governments owing members arrears of salaries. He said states owing polytechnic teachers backlog of salaries for upward of nine months include Oyo, Osun, Abia, Kogi, Bayesla and Edo.
ASUP had during the interview for the selection of new rector for YABATECH rejected the short listing of three professors by the governing council.
The union explained that the action of the Chief Lateef Fagbemi governing council violates the Federal Polytechnic Act.
In the petition dated September 26, signed by ASUP National President, and the Southwest Zonal Coordinator, Adetunji Omoba Orun and addressed to the council chairman, Chief Fagbemi, the union drew the attention of the council that only chief lecturers from the polytechnic are qualified to occupy the office of rector in any of the nation’s polytechnic.
It reads: For the avoidance of doubt, the advertisement clearly stated that only chief lectures of five years are qualified to apply. It is worth stating that there is no equivalent to chief lecturers outside the polytechnic sector.”
The union urged the governing council to be mindful of short listing and interviewing any Professor for the position of rector as it is being attempted in the on-going rectorship candidate interview in Yaba College of Technology.
The letter titled: ‘’Protesting shortlisting of Professor for YABATECH rectorship interview,” ASUP national revealed that the branch has been directed to resist any attempt to violate the advertisement made and the enabling law with respect to the rectorship.