From Isa Dangana, Minna
The academic group within the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) in the Federal Polytechnic Bida has appealed to the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu to ignore the call by some ASUP unionists calling for an acting Rector to be appointed for the Federal Polytechnic Bida before Monday.
The group described the call by ASUP as ignorance, mischief and disregard to the laws guiding Rectors’ appointments.
The group has therefore asked the minister to ignore the ASUP since the reappointment was done constitutionally.
A statement signed by the chairman and secretary of the group, Dr. Victor Okolobah and Mr. Abdulkadir Abdullahi Yahaya respectively, faulted the move by ASUP leaders, describing it as self-serving, callous and altogether borne out of mischief.
The statement also maintained that President Muhammadu Buhari acted in accordance with the law when he reappointed Dr. Abubakar Abdul Dzukogi for a second term of four years in 2019, adding that: “the reappointment is in line with Section 8 (6) c of the new Polytechnic Act and also in compliance with the extant Civil Service Rules.”
It added: “We expect the union to follow the law and respect the decision of constituted authorities.
“The appointment letter conveying Mr. President’s approval emphatically stated that he will serve for another four years and leave office in 2023.
“The minister should just ignore the union because due process was duly followed in reappointing the Rector for another term.
“Now, since the union is already in court over the matter, there is no need pressuring the minister to do anything now.
“Let parties to the case patiently await the verdict of the court on the said matter.”
The group, however, commended the current wave of infrastructural development in the institution, calling on the union and other stakeholders to give peace a chance.
