By Bisi Olaniyi, Benin

The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has kicked against the appointment of five rectors said to be unqualified for the job in six newly-established Federal polytechnics.

ASUP, through its National President Anderson Ezeibe, expressed it opposition yesterday at the union’s 100th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting at Federal Polytechnic in Auchi, Edo State.

It said: “To be qualified for rectorship, the person must be a chief lecturer for a minimum of five years in any of the polytechnics in Nigeria.

“The Federal Government recently announced the existence of six new Federal polytechnics. Unfortunately, five of the six rectors that were appointed into the newly-established polytechnics are neither chief lecturers; neither are they from any of these polytechnics in Nigeria. They have fallen short of the qualifications required to be in the office.

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“ASUP is already in court with the Federal Government on the matter. We have already served the appointing authority, that is President Muhammadu Buhari, through substituted means.

“We got an order of court to serve the appointing authority by substituted means and, of course, to join the five persons appointed as rectors into the polytechnics.”

The union urged the Edo State government to pay five months’ salary arrears it owed the workers of state polytechnic at Usen.

Edo Deputy Governor Philips Shaibu, who was represented at the meeting by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Jimoh Ijegbai, said the state government was aware of the lingering labour issues at the Edo Polytechnic, Usen.

He assured the union that adequate steps were being taken to address them.