Follow Us on Google
From Isaac Job, Uyo
Annang ethnic nationality and host community of Akwa Ibom state Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua in Ikot Ekpene local government area of the state have insisted that it is their turn to produce the next Rector of the institution as the tenure of Dr Moses Umobong expired last month.
They also uphold the guidelines signed by the Human Resource Officer of National Board for Technical Education ( NBTE) Mr Lawal Hafiz on appointment of new Rector and faulted ex Rector Dr Moses Umobong who allegedly facilitated emergence of Dr Akanimo Jonah as Acting Rector without adhering to NBTE’s procedures .
Addressing Journalists at Ikot Ekpene , the Polytechnic Community Liaison Officer (CLO) Mr Udoma Akpan said it is the turn of Annang people who are the host community of the institution to bring the next Rector to allow justice , equity and fair play.
” Check out the leadership of state owned tertiary institutions in Akwa Ibom , non of them is headed by an Annang man .
” Akwa Ibom state College of Education , Afaha Nsit, Akwa Ibom state University (AKSU) are headed by someone from Ibibio and if Akwa Ibom state Polytechnic is headed by non indigene , it will show great injustice to our people ”
Akpan explained that the immediate past Rector took over from Annang man and should handover to somebody from the same tribe .
He regretted that when Umobong wanted to leave at the expiration of his tenure , he allegedly manipulated the succession process and appointed his cohort as Acting Rector without the consent of the state governor who is a visitor to the institution.
” This is why the state government could not allow the Acting Rector Dr Jonah to hold meeting with staff of the Polytechnic”
However, some academic staff of the Polytechnic have accused the former Rector Dr Umobong of pushing for appointment of unqualified person as Deputy Rector contrary to the directive of NBTE describing it as a slap on academic integrity and due process .
One of the staff who with our Reporter on condition of anonymity said the move by the ex Rector contravene the NBTE guidelines .
According to him , NBTE clearly spelt out criteria for the appointment of Deputy Rectors in Nigerian Polytechnics.
Other News
” The candidate must hold a Doctorate (Ph.D.) degree and meet the requirements stipulated in the Scheme of Service for the appointment of a Chief Lecturer,
possess a minimum of 15 years of teaching experience in the Polytechnic institution, must be a Chief Lecturer in the Polytechnic sector with at least 5 years of experience on that rank and have
a significant academic leadership roles such as Head of Department (HOD), Director or Dean of School within the Polytechnic system.
He said when the Acting Rector took over from Dr Umobong, these requirements were lacking
“These requirements are not ambiguous, and they form the bedrock of academic leadership progression in Nigeria’s Polytechnic system.
“It is therefore deeply troubling that, according to credible reports, the outgoing Rector is allegedly working behind the scenes to impose a less qualified candidate who fails to meet key eligibility criteria, including the mandatory five-year experience as a Chief Lecturer and no record of service as HOD ” .
The academic staff observed that if the appointments is allowed, it would collapse the Polytechnic system
“If these allegations are true and this appointment proceeds unchecked, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic—the only state-owned Polytechnic—risks being reduced to a caricature of an academic institution in the comity of Polytechnics across the federation”.
It therefore urged relevant authorities to rise and serve the institution from credibility problems
“We urge all relevant stakeholders, including Akwa Ibom State Government, NBTE, and Civil Society Organizations, to intervene promptly.
“Upholding the sanctity of academic standards and due process is non-negotiable.
“The future of the institution and indeed, the credibility of Polytechnic education in Akwa Ibom State depends on the integrity of such appointments” .
Meanwhile , the former Rector Dr Moses Umobong while reacting to above allegations stated that he had no hands in the appointment of the Acting Rector.
” I have told the world on several occasions that I have no hands in the appointment of the Acting Rector.”he said
