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ASUP urges FG to appoint Rectors for five Federal Polytechnics

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The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has urged the Federal Government to start the process for the appointments of new Rectors for Federal Polytechnic in five States.

The ASUP President, Mr Anderson Ezeibe made the call at the end of the 106th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the union in Abuja on Thursday.

The states are Federal Polytechnic Ugep in Cross River; Federal Polytechnic Shendam, Plateau; Federal polytechnic Mungonu, Borno; Federal Polytechnic Enugu, Enugu State; and Federal Polytechnic Wannune, Benue.

Ezeibe said the meeting was called to discussed critical issues affecting the Nigerian Polytechnic system, education sector and the nation at large.

According to him, the NEC of the union is disappointed that more than one month after the ruling of the National Industrial Court (NIC) in the suit NICN/ABJ/117/2021 delivered by Hon. Justice O.A. Obaseki- OSAGHAE, nothing has happened.

“This is where the purported appointments of Prof. Edward Okey, Dr Zakari Yau, Prof. Garba Ngala, Prof. Edwin Onyeneje, Dr Terlumun Utser as Rectors of Federal Polytechnic Ugep, Shendam, Mungonu, Ohodo, and Wannune respectively was nullified.

“The government and the respective governing councils of the institutions are yet to begin the process for the appointment of new Rectors.

“We are surprised that despite the lucid nature of the judgement, which highlighted the fact that the persons purportedly appointed do not possess the requisite requirements for the positions as contained in the Federal Polytechnics Act (2019) amendment.

“Our union is unhappy that the supremacy of the rule of law is threatened in the Nigerian polytechnic system as this signals a new regime of impunity in the sector,” he said.

The ASUP President, therefore, called on the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Education to respect the NIC ruling  and relieve the affected persons parading as rectors of such duties.

He said the union also demanded the conclusion of the appointment process for the rectors of Federal Polytechnic Bauchi and Yaba College of Technology as the non-conclusion of the process was undermining the smooth administration of the institutions.

Ezeibe, however, commended President Muhammadu Buhari for the release of first tranche of the N15 billion  needs assessment  intervention for the polytechnics.

He said that the funds were currently being received by the beneficiary institutions and the union and they would ensure appropriate value for it being released.

“Our union shall hold the Rector of any polytechnic responsible for any form of infraction noticed in deployment of the funds for the approved projects.

“We have received early warning signals of attempts by unscrupulous persons to undermine the deployment of these funds through spurious demands from the rectors.

“In due course, we shall be revealing the identities of these persons and their collaborators as we are determined to ensure that the funds are judiciously spent to improve infrastructure in the system,” he said.

The union leader also noted that 18 Federal Polytechnics were currently suffering the impact of shortcomings in the budgeting processes of the Polytechnics.

According to him, the impact of this lack of attention to details is seen in the non-remittances of third party deductions like union check off dues and cooperative societies’ deductions for the past three months.

“ Our union views this as a plot to undermine the union as representative organs of the staff and impoverish members by denying them access to the benefits of their contributions to the cooperative societies,” he said.

Ezeibe pointed out the non-payment of staff salaries in some state-owned polytechnics and monotechnics such as Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, that is owing the 40 months as well as Plateau, Osun, Benue, Ondo and Edo.

He said the union’s check off dues were withheld by the Sokoto and Ogun State governments.

He added that this was indeed a sad commentary in the dispensation of good governance in the country.

He, however, called for the restarting of the union and Federal Government 2010 renegotiation that began since 2017, which had lingered till date.

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Education

Kwara Govt warns against illegal charges for Common Entrance exam

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The Kwara State Government has warned principals of Junior Secondary Schools and head teachers of primary schools across the state against illegal charges for the state placement examination (Common Entrance).

Any violator will face the full wrath of the law, the state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo Kawu, warned on Tuesday in her office in Ilorin.

She emphasized that the common entrance is free and government will not tolerate anyone or group of people extorting money, under any guise, from the pupils because the examination is fully sponsored by the state government.

Hajia Modibbo Kawu urged the principals and head teachers to desist from all acts that could dent the image of the state government.

She also cautioned them against aiding and abetting examination malpractices, stating that the present administration has zero tolerance for examination malpractices.

The commissioner implored the parents and guardians of the pupils to report any principal or head teacher with suspicious acts to her office directly, reiterating that her office is open to everyone.

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Education

UNILORIN appoints 40 new Professors

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By Saka Laaro, Ilorin

The University of Ilorin has announced the promotion of 40 of its senior academics to the rank of Professor.

The elevation, which was approved by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, SAN, was sequel to the recommendations of the University Appointment and Promotion Committee.

A statement from the Office of the Registrar said that the 40 distinguished scholars were found to have excelled in the realms of teaching, research and community service and subsequently promoted to the highest rank obtainable in the academia.

The breakdown of the beneficiaries of the promotion exercise shows that 11 of the new Professors are produced by the Faculty of Agriculture and they are Prof. Sidiqat A. Aderinoye-Abdulwahab, Prof. L. L. Adefalu,Prof. F. O. Takim and Prof. A. A. Badmos.

Others are Prof. Foluke E. Sola-Ojo, Prof. W. A. Jimoh, Prof. M. I. Abubakar, Prof. T. H. Aliyu, Prof. R. O. Uddin II, Prof. T. O. Amusa and Prof. Mutiat A. Balogun.
From the Faculty of Arts are Prof. K. M. U. Gbodofu, Prof. Y. A. Abdullahi, Prof. Abosede R. O. Babatunde, Prof. Bolanle E. Arokoyo, and Prof. P. U. Nwosu while the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences produced Prof. A. S. Alabi, who teaches at the Department of Anatomy.
Two Lecturers from the Faculty of Clinical Sciences were also elevated to the rank of Professor and they are Prof. T. O. Olanrewaju and Prof. O. A. M. Adesiyun.

The Faculty of Communication & Information Science also produced two new Professors through Prof. Tinuke O. Oladele and Prof. Saudat S. Abdulbaqi while those promoted from the Faculty of Education are Prof. O. O. Okoji, Prof. Folakemi O. Adeniyi-Egbeola and Prof. Florence O. Daramola

From the Faculty of Engineering and Technology are Prof. A. T. Ajiboye, Prof. A. Y. Abdulrahman, Prof. M. O. Sumonu, Prof. Rasheedat M. Mahamood and Prof. T. K. Ajiboye.

The Faculty of Law produced one new Professor in the person of Prof. A. C. Onuora-Oguno.
The Faculty of Life Sciences produced four new professors. They are Prof. M. O. Nafiu, Prof. Faoziyat A. Sulaiman, Prof. Risikat Nike Ahmed, and Prof. I. O. Sule.

Those promoted from the Faculty of Management Sciences are Prof. M. A. Ajayi and Prof. Rihanat I. Abdulkadir as the Faculty of Physical Sciences also produced two new professors through Prof. Haleemat I. Adegoke and Prof. O. A. Abidoye.

The promotion of Prof. Monisola A. Tunde of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management was also confirmed while the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine also produced one of the new Professors in the person of Prof. Z. Jaji from the Department of Veterinary Anatomy.

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Education

Student Union election turns deadly: One student flees for life, parents killed in tragic attack 

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In the quiet town of Ekiadolor, the College of Education became a battleground as student politics turned deadly. Odunuga Gbenga, a promising student, found himself thrust into the chaos of campus conflict.

It all began innocently enough when Gbenga was nominated as a contestant for the Student Union presidency. Little did he know that this simple act would plunge him into a nightmare.

During the election, tensions ran high as rival factions clashed violently. What was supposed to be a democratic process spiraled into chaos, with reports of killings, rapes, and riots echoing across the school grounds.

In fear for his life, Gbenga fled the campus, seeking refuge in the familiar embrace of his parents’ home in Edo State. But safety eluded him as darkness fell on that fateful night.

Under the cover of midnight, a group of assailants descended upon Gbenga’s home, shattering the peace of the night. In a desperate bid for survival, Gbenga fought bravely, but the odds were against him.

Tragically, Gbenga’s valiant efforts were in vain. Though he managed to escape, his beloved parents were not as fortunate. The attackers, driven by unknown motives, mercilessly took the lives of Mr. Samuel Odunuga and Mrs. Taiwo Odunuga, leaving a family shattered and a community reeling in shock.

Since that harrowing night in 2023, the search for Gbenga has consumed the hearts and minds of his grieving family. Their plea echoes through the pages of this newspaper, a desperate cry for justice and closure in the face of unspeakable tragedy.

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