It is very important to draw the attention of the Federal Government and particularly, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, to the issue of the 25 newly inaugurated chairmen of the governing councils of the Federal polytechnics in the country. None of the chairmen is serving in federal Polytechnic located in his own state except that of Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State, who is from Ojah town in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, which is about 16 kilometers away from Auchi where the polytechnic is located. Nigerians are asking: was the appointment of this man done in error or deliberately? For instance, Dr. J. I. Okar from Benue State is the Chairman Governing Council of Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Afikpo. Ebonyi State, Chief Edwin Ogunbor from Edo State is the Chairman of Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Imo State, Mrs. Yalwa Tahir from Bauchi State is the Chairman of Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Taraba State, Hon. Chief Lasbury Amadi from River State is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, Chief Odey Ochicha from Cross River State is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, Chief Austin Adeze from Anambra State is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Prof. Nasir Yauri from Kebbi State is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State, Prof. Eddy Olanipekun from Ekiti State is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State, Dr. Ibrahim Liman Sifawa from Sokoto State is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State, Prof. Abubakar Ahmed Sadauke from Niger State is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, Prof. David Adewunmi from Osun State is the Chairman Governing Council of National Institute of Construction Technology, Uromi, Edo State, Chief Abayomi Daramola from Lagos State is the Chairman Governing Council of Hussain Adamu, Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure, Jigawa State, Chief S.O Ike Udabah from Enugu State is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic Ukana, Akwa Ibiom State, Sen. Uche Julius from Ebonyi State is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Oil and Gas Bonny, Rivers State, Chief Osekula Zikora from Delta State is the Chairman of Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, Prof. Godwin Sogolo from south-south is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa State, Prof. Kingsley Dakeni Alagoa from south-south is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State, Engr. Bassey Usang Bassey from south-south is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State, Bar. Lateef Fagbemi from Oyo State is the Chairman of Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State, Dr. Ismail ‘Biodun Layi from south-west is the Chairman Governing Council of Waziri Umani Polytechnic, Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State, Alh. Yusuf Hassan from North-East is the Chairman Governing Council of Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna State, Alh. Muhammed Abubakar from North-East is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Damaturu, Yobe State, Prof. Muhammed Sani Yakya from North-West is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, Alh. Abubakar Dantata from North-West is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi State and Chief Micheal Oloko (Oloyo) from Edo State is the Chairman Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State.
From all indication none of the governing council chairmen comes from the state where the Federal polytechnics they are governing are located. More so, this anomaly is coming at a time when the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi community is demanding the rationale behind the appointment of the Acting Rector of the institution. The imposition of the Acting Rector defies all reasoning in the sense that 24 candidates went for the interview in July, 2016 but in a fiat, one of the 24 candidates was appointed as the acting rector upon the removal of the former Deputy Rector (Academics) who was the acting rector. The man now imposed on the polytechnic was neither a Deputy Rector nor Dean of School or even member of management team of the polytechnic. All in the name of ‘by hook or by crook’, ‘na Auchi indigene we want’. People see this as an attempt to introduce autocracy and politicking into our educational system in an era when autonomy and merit should be the prevailing order. With this development, the good intension of the President on our educational system is gradually been eroded. The tertiary institution should not be treated as a fiefdom of political compensation where autocracy prevails.
I humbly call on President Muhammadu Buhari to look into the matter as strenuous efforts are being made to abandon the credible interview conducted last year by the Federal Ministry of Education, just to impose a man (indigene) that does not merit the position, probably through the current the chairman of the governing council, who is also an indigene of Edo State.
Sir, there is need to insist on merit and allow existing rules to prevail in our educational system for the overall progress and development of the country.
► Samuel Alli wrote from Jattu, Edo State.