OUTRAGE: Registrar Plots Another Tenure Extension For KadPoly Ag. Rector

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA

After the completion of a controversial  six-month tenure extension that will expire on May 18, 2022 for Dr Suleiman Umar, there is a new plot by the Registrar of the Kaduna Polytechnic, Dr. Muhammad Sani Musa, to grant him yet another illegal six-month extension.

Sources in the school hinted that the recommendation for another tenure extension is set to be sent to the Governing Council for Dr Umar whose  appointment as substantive rector has been stalled by legal fireworks embarked by Professor Muhammad Sani Yahaya who is challenging the rationale behind his exclusion  from the interview exercise  for the appointment of a new rector.

 According to the recommendation letter dated 9^th May 2022, and addressed to the Chairman and Members of the Kaduna Polytechnic  Governing Council,  from the office of the Registrar, who is also the Secretary of the Council,  notes:

“Accordingly, in order to not create a vacuum in the office of the Rector, before the expiration of the six months, while the appointment of a substantive Rector is being awaited, and in line with the Section 5 (i) of the Federal Polytechnic Act, 1979 which states that ‘Each Council shall be the Governing Body of the Polytechnic concerned and should have the general management of the affairs of the Polytechnic in particular, the control of the property and finances of the Polytechnic and shall also have power to do anything which in its opinion is calculated to facilitate the carrying out of the activities of the Polytechnic and promote its interest, the Council may wish to kindly consider and approve the appointment of an Acting Rector , with effect from 19^th May, 2022”.

The prayer sought by the Registrar, according to the letter, is that:

“(i)The Acting Appointment of Dr. Suleiman Umar, the current Acting Rector would expire on 18th May, 2022,

“(ii) There is the need for the appointment an Acting Rector in order not to create a vacuum of leadership, and

“(iii) Consider and approve the appointment of Dr. Suleiman Umar as Acting Rector, pending the approval of a substantive Rector by Mr. President please”.

A source in the polytechnic confirmed to our reporter that it is clear that the attempt by the Registrar, in collaboration with some members of Council, to grant yet another illegal extension constitutes an act of illegality that must be stopped.

According to a source at the polytechnic: “Any attempt at illegally renewing the tenure of the Acting Rector  is in gross violation of  the Polytechnic (Amendment) Act 2019 that forbids such further extension. The Registrar cannot be talking of the 1979 Act when we have an amendment that was passed in 2019. This amendment clearly states: “In the case of vacancy in the office of the Rector, the Council shall appoint an Acting Rector who should not be in office for more than six months.”

“We recall that the NBTE had called to the attention of the Federal Ministry of Education to the planned renewal of Dr Umar’s six month extension via a letter dated November 17, 2021, letter signed by the NBTE Executive secretary, Professor Idris Bugaje.

“In stressing that renewing Dr Umar’s six-month extension is not in tandem with existing rules provided in the Polytechnic (Amendment) Act 2019, the letter from the NBTE boss had categorically noted:  ‘I write to inform you that the Governing Council of the Kaduna Polytechnic, currently meeting in the institution, has extended the tenure of the Ag.. Rector beyond six months until a new Rector is appointed. This is against the provisions of the Polytechnic Act as amended and attached. It is also against the legal advice given by Abdullahi Ibrahim and Partners Chambers as attached’”.

Calling on the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, not to approve further renewal of another six-month tenure extension, the letter from the NBTE in November 2021 had declared: “This action of the Council amounts to violation of the Polytechnic Act and the ministry should approve steps to reverse this illegality. I had advised the Ag. Rector and Registrar verbally not to embark on extension of tenures, but to no avail.

“Dr. Suleiman became the Acting Rector on 14th April, 2021, when I was appointed executive secretary of the NBTE. The council ratified on 18th May, 2021 and on the 7th November, the mandate ended. There are already allegations of financial inducements of the Governing Council, among others allegations.

“Sir, you may wish to note that this provision of 6 months acting period without extension has been complied with in Mubi and Auchi in spite of the challenges in these institutions. In the future, the ministry should direct that all sitting acting Rectors should not be applicants to vacant positions and if they are interested in applying, they should step aside and allow another Ag. Rector to be appointed due to the experiences we are having from Federal Polytechnic Mubi and KadPoly”.

Despite this strongly worded letter from the regulatory body, the Governing Council had its way as it went against all rules to give Dr Umar another six-month tenure extension. Sources in the polytechnic are flabbergasted as to why such an illegality is taking place in a democracy that is hinged on the rules of law.

With yet another effort currently being mounted by Dr Musa for yet another illegal extension, staffers of the institution are gearing up to end this show of lawlessness. With Professor Yahaya’s court case before the National Industrial court of Nigeria (NICN), the road to sustaining the illegality as demonstrated in yet another attempt to foist Dr Umar is set to hit the rocks.

A teacher who pleaded not to be mentioned said: “There is no way the polytechnic can survive yet another illegality. Dr Umar is not indispensable. His tenure should not be illegally renewed again. Other officers should be given the Ag. Rector position in order to clear the mess both the Registrar and Dr Umar have created.  There will always be a crisis as long as the current Council is allowed to superintend over the recruitment of a substantive rector. The Ministry should act fast and save the integrity of the Northern premier institution.”