The Campaign for Democracy (CD), South-East has warned the Federal Government over re-appointing of Dr. Anene Uzuakpunwa as the chairman of the Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Oko in Anambra.
This was contained in a statement issued to newsmen by CD in Awka, Anambra on Friday.
The statement was signed by Dede Uzor A. Uzor, Chairman, CD South-East Region.
“During his last tenure as chairman of the governing council, Uzuakpunwa and management of the Polytechnic were often at loggerheads over award of contracts and allowances for committee members’ sittings as the former chairman was said to be insisting on taking the major decisions unilaterally.
“His led-council had incessant meetings of 13 times in a year, instead of having the statutorily approved four times meeting for the council in a year; while he allegedly collected allowances for the extra sittings, which some of the sittings is frivolous.
“Also he is above 70 years; while there are younger people or even his children that can do better on the governing of the institution.
“He alleged recalled staff that were suspended because they were employed “through the back-doors’’, this had fuelled the ghost workers syndrome in the institution,’’ it said.
CD noted that the Federal Government should appoint young and able hands in order to check the looming break-down of law and order in the institution since the students and officials of the institution had greatly opposed his council’s appointment.
“The status quo of the institution should remain as the Federal Government shops for creditable, dedicated and wisdom-led governing council.
“People that have gone moribund as far as age and lack of technological-bearing should not be appointed any more in institutions in the country.
“Young technocrats and forward-thinking Nigerians should be appointed just as it is done in Federal Polytechnic, Nekede in Imo, Federal Polytechnic, Uwana in Afikpo; Federal College of Education, Umunze among others.
“All these institutions had remained peace since their governing council appointments was done based on technocracy and not on political considerations,’’ it said.
CD would liaise with other stakeholders – Association of West African Students Union (AWASU) and National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) – to embark on massive protest if Federal Government does not respect the views and wishes of the people.
“The protest would not be compared to what we had in the Middle-East last year,’’ CD warns.
