BY ỊGBONAEKWU MBAH
After months of wheeling and dealing, protests and counter moves that saw the Minister and the Ministry of Education approached over the imbroglio surrounding the appointment of a substantive Rector for the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, Dr. Mrs. Chioma Irene Awuzie, who has been alleged subject of favouritism plots has eventually been named the Polytechnic’s Rector.
Despite the development, the issues surrounding the processes leading up to her selection/appointment have not gone away. In fact, troubling questions over her eligibility abinitio, the credibility of the interview and the selection process; roles of certain individuals who turned the rules and laid down procedures on their heads to aid her emergence and court judgements that should have eliminated her from the process still persist.
The questions begging for answers after the deluge of petitions, protests and evidences pointing to the fact that Mrs. Awuzie ought not be in the running for the reverred topmost job of such an institution as the Federal Polytechnic Oko, is her appointment justifiable, did the process follow laid down rules, is it sustainable and in the interest of the Polytechnic community? Above all, does the decision to appoint such an individual within the context of the baggages trailing her satisfy equity, justice and respect for due process?
Again, the Federal Ministry of Education has been petitioned by an alumnus of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Chief Uzochukwu Nchekwube Ikedife, who pointing out the obvious pitfalls of the process leading up to the selection of Dr Awuzie, the manipulation and exploitation of privileged positions to favour and throw her up as the favourite candidate even when she was not supposed to be in the mix, in the first place.
According to Chief Ikedife, the advertisement for the position of Rector in the Polytechnic, which was placed on page 13 of the Daily Sun newspaper of Tuesday, October 31, 2023 stated the major criterium for eligibility for application, which is having attained the position of Chief Lecturer with five years experience, according to the Federal Polytechnics Act, 2019 and paragraph 4 of the National Board of Technical Education, NBTE template for academic qualification.
Dr Awuzie according to her original employment record and progression did not satisfy above provisions and template as she was only 3 years old as a Chief Lecturer at the time applications closed on December 12th, 2023.
Also, the move to harmonize Dr. Awuzie’s record of service, which had earlier been rejected, to shore up her number of years as Chief Lecturer by an acting Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Uche Onyegbu was rendered null and void by the judgement of the National Industrial Court, Awka in suit no NICN/AWK/12/2024on July 25, 2024, when Dr. Onyegbu was sacked by the court and all actions taken by him as acting Rector nullified, including the harmonization letter issued to Dr. Awuzie.
In addition, the Governing Council of the institution May have been part of the plot to secure the position for Dr Awuzie. It has been confirmed that she may not have been interviewed as claimed by the Council because according to a letter signed by the Registrar/Secretary of the Council, Obinn Onuchukwu, Dr Awuzie’s name was not among those listed for interview on the date she was said to have been interviewed, yet, she was presented as a top contender, leading to her appointment.
With the foregoing, it is apparent that the dust surrounding the debacle is far from being over. The Polytechnic community may be sitting on tinder box waiting for a little spark to set it off.
In fact, the onus is on the Minister of Education and his Ministry to revisit the Federal Polytechnic, Oko Rectorship appointment, investigate the selection process and roles played by individuals or group leading to the presentation of candidates for appointment and take appropriate action against anyone found to have undermined or manipulated the process.
This may be the only way to ensure that not only the right candidate is put in office as Rector but fairness, equity and justice would be seen to have executed, with the Polytechnic community made to have faith and respect for due process and laiddown rules.
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