The Alliance for the Advancement of Auchi Polytechnic (AAAP) has appealed to the Federal Government to consider merit above other factors in appointing a substantive Rector for the institution.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that AAA is a socio-educational group in the institution.
The group’s appeal is contained in a statement issued by its Convener, Alhaji Oshiobugie Danjuma, and made available to NAN in Benin on Sunday.
Danjuma stated that appointing a rector with the requisite qualification would place the first generation polytechnic “in a pole position for its planned upgrade to a university”.
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“The authorities must avoid the issues that have brought about the acrimony between the polytechnic and university graduates in appointing a substantive rector for the institution,” he stated.
He opined that undermining the most qualified person for the rectorship would not augur well for the nation’s foremost polytechnic.
“We are aware that interview for the appointment of a substantive rector for the institution has been conducted.
“We are also aware that there were Master degrees and Ph.D holders that were interviewed for the top job.
“Our position is that it will be out of place to appoint a Master degree holder as substantive rector, when you have Ph.D holders.
“Doing that will not alllow the polytechnics to compete favourably with the universities,” Danjuma stated.
He further stated that the case of Auchi poly should not be different from other polytechnics in the country, where all the rectors were Ph.D holders.
The statement added: “We however need to reiterate here that we are for nobody or anybody.
“We are only out for the right thing to be done for the betterment of the institution that has been recognised and acknowledged as a first generation polytechnic in the country.
“Moreover, the plan to upgrade the polytechnic, with the bill getting the nod of the National Assembly, must not be jeopardised just to satisfy some few persons.” (NAN)
