By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
A Group under the auspices of Equity and Justice, (EJ), on Monday called on the federal government to sanction the Rector of Auchi Polytechnic, Dr. Sanusi Jimoh for employing 250 staff without following the due process.
This was contained in press statement issued by the group’s director of publicity, Mr. Izuagbe John and made available to newsmen in Benin City.
Mr. Izuagbe said the Rector, Dr. Sanusi Jimoh had during the polytechnic 25th convocation ceremony, said the institution employed 250 staff as part of practical steps towards solving the acute manpower shortage besetting the school.
Mr. Izuagbe quoted the rector as thus”To strengthen the staffing capacity of the institution to deliver effectively and efficiently on its academic and support services, 250 members of staff have been recruited.
“The staff have settled into their duties and early indications show that they will be a great asset to this institution”
He said the recruitment of the 250 is at variance to the enabling laws as regards recruitment into the federal public service which said all vacancies shall be advertised in at least two newspapers circulating nationally, giving prospective candidates a minimum of six weeks within which to apply.
The director of publicity of the group said more worrisome was when the rector of the institution was said to have allegedly employed his son and placed him above his qualification and competence.
He added that, he has also been accused of allegedly employing about 12 members of his immediate family as staff of the institution.
He said they have reasons to fault the appropriateness or otherwise of the recruitment without strict adherence to the process and staff Audit to ascertain the exact numbers, competence and qualities of those said to have been employed by him.
He urged the appropriate ministry to investigate the employment scan and apply necessary sanctions where it is established that the rector has over stepped his bounds.
In his response, the institution’s public relations officer, Mr. Mustapha Oshiobugie, said the the school followed due process to recruit its staff.
“The polytechnic duly employed 250 staff to fill the existing vacancies in the institution. All due processes were followed.
On the issue of employing 12 of his family members, the PRO said “if anybody of the family member is qualified, does that mean that such person will not be employed? If the rector has a son who wants to attend the polytechnic and he is qualified for the department he wants to go, is it because his father is a rector he will not be taken or get a qualified job? .
“What i am saying in real sense is that all those that were appointed were qualified, duly interviewed, everything followed the due process”, he said.
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