NOKAPU, ASUP kicks against re-appointment of Nuhu Bamalli Poly Rector

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Northern Kaduna Peoples Union (NOKAPU) and the concerned lecturers of the Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria has kicked against the recommendation of the Governing Council of the Polytechnic on the re-appointment of the current rector, Adamu Aliyu Shika for another term of 4 years.

The Union in a press release, signed by its Secretary, Comrade Halliru Idris and made available to the media in Kaduna yesterday, stated that such recommendation to the Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero by the Governing Council of the Polytechnic was a gross violation of the provision of extant National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) Laws and the Revised Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic Edict/Laws (2003) on the re-appointment of rector for the polytechnic.

“The NBTE and Nuhu Bamalli Edict/laws stipulates that whoever is to be appointed or reappointed to the post of a rector must not be more than 55 years of age and thus, cannot be reappointed as the current rector will be fifty eight (58) years of age by 7th August and his first term tenure will elapse by 4th August 2014.

“The action of the council members of the polytechnic has not only contravenes the existing laws of the polytechnic but portrayed them as constitution of contractors doing the bidding of the outgoing rector,

masquerading as council members,” it stated.

NOKAPU advised Governor Yero not to work with the impunity as recommended by the Governing Council, urging him to strictly adhere to the criteria on the appoint or re-appointment of Rector so that bad precedence will not be set, citing instances where the reappointment of the former Bursar of the

polytechnic, Alh. Abdullahi Ibrahim, whose tenure of three years expired and was denied second term, in view of not having enough years to go for second term.

Similarly, a group known as the concerned lecturer’s forum of the polytechnic channeled through the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), North-West Zonal chapter has called on Governor Yero to expedite action, by directing relevant authorities to advertise the position of the Rector, which is to become vacant as from August 5, 2014.

The petition, signed by 37 concerned lecturers and made available to our reporter, cautioned against the re-appointment of the current Rector for another 4 year-term, as doing so, according to them, will have serious negative consequences on the overall developmental objectives of the Polytechnic.

However, feelers from the Polytechnic communities disclosed that the out-going Rector was bent on his second term bid in spite of the retirement age barrier.

Investigation by our reporter reveals that the outgoing Rector has started making last minute effort to woo influential members believed to be close to the administration of the state, to help in the actualization of his second term, but despite this move, the Polytechnic community expressed optimism that knowing the antecedents of the Executive Governor of the state, he will act responsibly in line with the rules of law.