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Tag: Sanusi Jimah

  • Don’t tarnish image of Auchi Polytechnic, council warns staff

    Chief Olarewaju Oloyo, the Chairman of the Governing Council of  Auchi Polytechnic in Edo,  has warned the staff  not to engage in unethical practices capable of ruining the reputation of  the institution.

    Oloyo gave the warning at an interactive session with Deans and Directors of the institution on Thursday in Auchi.

    While congratulating Dr Sanusi Jimah over his appointment as substantive Rector of the school, he said the council had come to the realisation that “the majority of staff, teaching and non-teaching, are reasonably obedient, hardworking and disciplined.’’

    According to him, the polytechnic “which is well respected among its peers,’’ has a great potential to serve the community and the nation through productive research and service.

    The council chairman, however, said a few members of the work force engage in unethical practices which impact negatively on the reputation of the polytechnic.

    “ Few members of staff wantonly break regulations by setting aside grievance procedures outlined in the terms of engagement.

    “Destroying any nation does not require the use of atomic bombs or the use of long range missiles. It only requires lowering the quality of education and allowing cheating in examination by such students.

    “Patients die in the hands of such doctors. Buildings collapse in the hands of such engineers. Money is lost in the hands of such economists and accountants.

    “Humanity dies in the hands of such religious scholars. Justice is lost in the hands of such judges; the collapse of the education sector is the collapse of the nation,” he said.

    “ We want to assure all of you that this council is in place to supervise the healthy and steady growth and progress of this institution.

    “Council believes that the welfare of staff is a necessary condition for progress. We assure you that council will pursue the welfare of staff as a cardinal principle.

    “Council also assures staff of fairness and justice. Staff should at all times endeavour to follow laid down grievance resolution mechanisms.

    “The idea of externalising grievances in the press is unhelpful. It impacts negatively on the polytechnic as an institution and on yourselves as workers of the polytechnic.

    “The community and the country have a myriad of problems requiring solutions. Problems can be solved through research; we mean productive research which solves or ameliorates problems.

    “We believe that this institution has the calibre of staff that can focus on such problems and solve them.

    “ In this direction, we challenge staff to come up with viable proposals that can solve problems.

    “We will find the money to fund such proposals. You worry about the proposal, leave us to worry about getting you the funds.

    Read Also: Auchi Polytechnic expels 18, rusticates 62

    “If this polytechnic must continue to make progress, discipline must be the guide. Under our oversight, unethical behaviour  like extortion, money or amorous gratification  for good grades for students will not be accepted.

    “The side tracking of regulations to externalise grievances in the courts or the press will also not be accepted. Council insists that internal grievance resolution mechanism should be exhausted before petitions start flying to all manner of offices in the country or in the court or the press.

    `We enjoin you to pass this message to your subordinates. Council will be compassionate, fair and just to all members of staff.

    “However, acts of indiscipline will be dealt with very firmly, I mean really very firmly.

    “Our hardworking staff needs to be protected. The image of the polytechnic needs to be protected from the nuisance of the few who soil our gowns,’’ he added.

    NAN

  • Auchi Poly will not compromise standard of education – Rector

    Dr Sanusi Jimah, the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi in Edo, has assured that the management will not compromise the institution’s reputed high education standard.

    Jimah said this in an interview with our correspondent on Friday in Benin.

    “As you may be aware, Auchi Polytechnic is among the very few institutions where management considers quality education and high moral values as necessary prerequisite for both staff and students to remain on campus.

    “And that is why since assumption of office, the policy of cleansing the institution is still on,’’ he said.

    According to him, these basic qualities impacted by us have helped to shape the lives and careers of products of the institution, who continue to excel in their different fields of endeavour.

    “Only a few days ago, 1993 graduates from Department of Mass Communication, were here just to say thank you to their former lecturers and management for impacting these basic qualities in them.

    “The former students, many of them now management staff in their different media establishments, recalled the discipline and rigorous teaching and learning methodologies employed then, which today many want to circumvent.

    “But we will not allow the shortcut syndrome anymore. And that is why we are saying there is no hiding place for those not ready to embrace the new order of positive change.

    “ And to demonstrate our resolve in this direction, five members of staff are presently facing disciplinary process for extortion.

    “One staff was redeployed for unethical practices regarding students’ project, four staff had to be compelled to refund money collected from students.’’

    On examination malpractice, the polytechnic in the 2016/2017 session sanctioned 92 students, adding that out  and of the figure, 18 were expelled, 62 rusticated, while eight had carried over courses..

    “Students who present forged or fake credentials to gain admission will not be comfortable here. All the credentials presented during the registration process will be verified.

    “If the credentials are found to be faked, the penalty is expulsion from the Polytechnic,’’ he said.

    The rector said that the present management strongly believed in continuous reviews and updates of the school’s curriculum to meet present national and global challenges.

    “That was why majority of the programmes being run in the institution, due for accreditation were presented to the National Board for Technical Education ( NBTE ) in November were recently accredited by the regulatory body.

    “This thinking is to enrich the curriculum and re-orientate students to be self-employed and create jobs on graduation. Entrepreneurial courses have been introduced in all programmes offered in the institution.’’

    According to him, parents and students should therefore be confident that whatever programme they are reading enjoys accreditation of NBTE.

    “Management is also working to ensure that the block of six class rooms in the School of Art and Design will be completed and put to use in the next two months.

    “Also, landscaping of the School of Engineering is in progress, and expected to be completed in another two months.

    “Within the same period, the School of Environmental Studies is expected to move fully into its new offices,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Auchi Poly to make examinations at ND 1, HND 1 computer-based

    The management of the Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo, says it is concluding arrangements to make examinations for the National Diploma 1 ( ND1 ) and Higher National Diploma 1 ( HND1 ) students computer-based.

    .The Rector of the institution, Dr Sanusi Jimah, made the disclosure at a news conference in Auchi on Wednesday.

    Jimah said that the introduction of the computer-based examination in the two levels was aimed at curbing examination malpractices and developing the students’ e-learning abilities.

    “The polytechnic is putting finishing touches for the take-off of Computer-Based Examination ( CBE ) for all ND 1 and HND 1 students this session.

    “As part of the transformation agenda in the polytechnic, the management has ensured that students can now access their examination results online.

    “In addition, allocation of hostel accommodation has been liberalised. Hostel allocation is now done online.

    Read Also: Auchi Polytechnic expels 18, rusticates 62

    “This has been done to remove sharp practices. Students are free to apply online for allocation once they pay the administrative charges and register for their programmes,” he said.

    The rector said that departments and units in the institution had been upgraded with the provision of e-learning multi-media equipment.

    Jimah, however, warned the staff of the institution against extorting money from the students, saying anyone caught in the act would be sanctioned appropriately.

    “The management of the polytechnic is coming hard on any staff who extorts money from students or request amorous gratifications from them to enhance their grade.

    “To demonstrate our resolve in this direction, no fewer than five members of staff are currently facing disciplinary action over extortion,” he said.

    NAN

  • Auchi polytechnic students seek Buhari’s intervention over rectorship crisis

    Auchi polytechnic students seek Buhari’s intervention over rectorship crisis

    The Students of Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately intervene in solving the rectorship crisis in the institution.

    Their appeal was conveyed at a briefing in Abuja at the weekend by a former President of the Student Union Government of the institution, Samson Okoduwa.

    The students had last year staged a peaceful protest at the Federal Ministry of Education over allegations of high-handedness, mismanagement and corruption against the acting Rector, Mr. Sanusi Jimah.

    The students also urged Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu to make public the outcome of the interview conducted for the position of rector in 2016.

    They alleged that the acting Rector was running the institution as a personal office by giving appointments to his friends and cronies.

    A development a source at the institution confirmed, noting that 95 per cent of appointments made by Mr. Jimah favored people from his Auchi region.

    Okoduwa also alleged that students of the institution were not issued identity card in the 2016/2017 session despite management collecting N1,500 naira from them.

    He also alleged that the acting rector failed to conduct an election into the SUG because he wanted to impose a stooge on the students.

    According to him, Mr. Jimah deliberately fixed the SUG election immediately after the second semester examination when all students would have finished their examinations and technically seize to be students.

    Okoduwa noted that a substantive rector would save the already sinking polytechnic.

    He said: “We are again restating/re emphasizing our demand to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Hi Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari to as a matter of urgency, intervene in Auchi Polytechnic rectorship issue.

    “The President should direct the Honourable Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu to as a matter of urgency release the report of the already conducted interview in 2016 at Abuja and appoint a substantive rector for the institution.

    “The delay in the release of the result/report and subsequent appointment of a substantive rector for Auchi Polytechnic is the millennium corruption.

    “The aberration in the appointment of Dr. Sanusi Momodu Jimah as acting Rector by the National Board for Technical Education ( NBTE ) should be withdrawn as the National Universities Commission ( NUC ) has never appointed a Vice Chancellor for any university.

    “This already sinking institution should be salvaged  as it requires an emergency.”

    However, the Chief Public Relations Officer of the institution, Mr. Mustapha Oshiobugie, said elections into the SUG was deferred because of security reasons.

    He also said the students were issued identity cards to enable them write their second semester examinations.

    Mr. Oshiobugie said: “Election into the executive offices of the students union was deferred because of security reasons.  Departmental and school elections which preceed the union election had been successfully held in five schools.

    “There was violence in the sixth school (School of Engineering).  The reverberations could not be contained before the scheduled sessional examinations which was two weeks away.

    “To the best of my knowledge, students gain admission into examination halls on presentation of their identity cards showing that they are bona fide students of the polytechnic.  The Second Semester examination was conducted using this procedure.  And there was no incidence throughout the examination.”

  • Auchi poly staff unions confident of Rector’s ability to liquidate N1.8bn debt

    Auchi poly staff unions confident of Rector’s ability to liquidate N1.8bn debt

    Auchi Polytechnic staff on Monday said they had implicit confidence that the acting Rector, Dr Sanusi Jimah, would redeem his pledge to liquidate arrears of the inherited N1.8 billion owed to unions at the institution.

    The three unions in the institution in March, suspended their month-old strike following an inaugural meeting with Jimah over the outstanding indebtedness of N1.8 billion owed to the unions by the previous administration of Dr Philipa Idogo.

    The unions include: the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics ( ASUP ), the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics ( SSANIP ) and the Non Academic Staff union of Polytechnics ( NASUP ).

    Some nine months since his assumption of office, the leadership of the unions, who described the acting Rector as “a man with a progressive heart,’’ confirmed that he had commenced the process of liquidating the outstanding debt.

    In telephone interviews in Benin, the union leaders, who commended Jimah’s policies and programmes, expressed implicit confidence in his leadership style.

    ASUP chairman, Mr Justin Momodu, said “I must say that all three unions have been enjoying a very cordial relationship with the acting Rector.

    “He has treated workers’ welfare with utmost priority, often times, even a step ahead of us.

    “For instance, even before we asked, he had tabled the issue of some of our sacked members before the Polytechnic’s Council.

    “Council granted the union’s appeal for their recall, and those recalled, who already attained retirement age, had their full benefits restored.

    “WIth a management that has Jimah as acting Rector, at its helm, workers do not have cause to complain or nurse any fear.

    “May I add that for now, workers have implicit confidence in his leadership style,’’ he said.

    SSANIP chairman, Mr Godwin Ikhide, confirmed that “following management’s agreement with the unions, the acting Rector has paid five per cent of the outstanding N1.8 billion owed to them by the previous management.

    “We are glad that he is fulfiling his commitment on his agreement with the unions. What happened was that the previous management, instead of remitting workers’ deducted funds to the union’s welfare account, was re-circulating it to pay staff whose employments were neither approved nor cash-backed.

    “This was what accumulated in two years to N1.8 billion, which the previous management left behind.

    “But the acting Rector is trying to liquidate this debt with internally generated revenue and is also taking steps to regularise the issue of unapproved employment of staff that has put the institution into this quagmire,’’ he said.

    NAN reports that members of ASUP are now on a nationwide strike, to demand for the enrolment of their members into CONTISS 15 migration salary structure for levels 11 downwards, and the payment of their promotion arrears.

    NAN

  • Auchi poly to sanction lecturers trading marks for money, sex

    Auchi poly to sanction lecturers trading marks for money, sex

    The Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo on Monday warned that it would henceforth sanction lecturers in the habit of awarding marks to students for money or sex.

    Dr Sanusi Jimah, the Acting Rector of the institution made the commitment when he received executive members of the polytechnic’s Alumni Association.

    “The management of Auchi poly will deal with corrupt lecturers who are fond of extorting money from students in order to award marks.

    “The management is keeping an eye on corrupt lecturers in the school and anyone caught would not be allowed to mark their scripts for the ongoing examination, if any case is registered against them,’’ Jimah said.

    The rector said that corruption would no longer be tolerated and vowed to fish out those who trade marks for sex and money which painted the institution in bad light.

    Earlier, National President of the association, Mr Victor Okhaimo pledged continued collaboration with the institution in the area of infrastructure and human capital development.

    He said that the association have confidence in the new rector to reposition the institution to greater height.

    Okhaimo commended the rector for restoring peace in the institution, and assured that the association would continue to play its role as mediator between the union and management in times of crisis.

  • Auchi Poly matriculates 7,066 students

    Auchi Poly matriculates 7,066 students

    Dr. Sanusi Jimah, Acting Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo, on Friday warned lecturers against extortion of money from students of the institution.

    Jimah gave the warning at 35th matriculation ceremony of the 2016/2017 students of the institution, saying that any lecturer caught in the act would be sanctioned appropriately.

    Jimah said that the warning became imperative following complaints by students over extortion of money by some lecturers of the institution.

    He frowned at the development, warning that management would not tolerate such sharp practice.

    “No extortion of money under any guise will be tolerated under my watch; the person that gives and the person that collects are culpable and will be sanctioned.

    “I advise that that you (students) report anyone soliciting for money or any untoward favour to the appropriate quarters for action,” he said.

    Jimah said that a total of 7,066 students were admitted into the institution, out of which 2,493 would pursue National Diploma (ND) and 4,573 Higher National Diploma (HND) courses.

    He warned newly admitted students in the institution to shun cultism, violence, examination malpractice and others vices, adding that the polytechnic would not hesitate to expel any student found wanting.

    He also admonished the students to imbibe dialogue, peaceful co-existence, discipline and hard work, to excel in their studies.

    The rector assured the students that staff and management of the institution would provide the enabling environment for them to excel.

    “The polytechnic is determined to make the learning environment conducive for you so that you can optimize your time for learning.

    “There is the need to emphasize that education is now going the way of e-learning. The polytechnic has four e-learning centres donated by Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).

    “Students are encouraged to take computer literacy seriously, and to make optimum use of computer facilities on campus,” he said.

  • Auchi Poly unions suspend indefinite strike

    Auchi Poly unions suspend indefinite strike

    Labour unions at the Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo, on Monday announced the suspension of their indefinite strike embarked upon since Feb. 6.

    The unions — the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (NASUP), directed their members to return to work.

    The unions conveyed the suspension of the strike in a communiqué jointly signed by their General Secretaries — Abdul-ganiyu Braimah (ASUP), Omonekhai Shaka (SSANIP) and Solomon Aliabakhalumhe (NASU).

    The communique was signed after a Joint Action Congress (JAC) meeting.

    It said the decision was sequel to deliberations and resolutions reached at the inaugural meeting between the new management, led by Dr Sanusi Jimah and the executive members of the unions.

    “We hereby suspend the strike, and workers are directed to resume their duties,’’ the communique read in part.

    The unions went on strike to press home their demands for the enrollment of the members of staff into CONTISS 15 Migration Salary Structure for levels 11 downwards and payment of promotion arrears, among others.

    Some members of the Auchi community in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo had on Saturday appealed to striking unions of the polytechnic to call of their strike.

    They made the plea during a peaceful protest to the secretariat of the unions, appealing to them to settle their disagreements with the management and call off the strike in the interest of the institution and the community.

    The community members claimed that business and commercial activities had been paralysed in the area since the commencement of the strike.