• Cross River, Niger protest (6), (4) nominees respectively, against Adamawa's (32); Akwa Iboms (23)
• Lists contravene extant laws, exclude host communities - Lawyer
'Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - The appointment of 555 people as members of the Governing Council of Federal government-owned Universities, Federal Polytechnics, and Federal Colleges of Education in the country by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been greeted with controversies.
These institutions for the past ten months have been in comatose and limbo drawing the irk of labour unions in the tertiary institutions because of the absence of their governing council.
According to an APC chieftain, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, However, I find it disconcerting that out of 555 people appointed to these governing councils, only six people were considered for an appointment from Cross River State.
If you divide 555 into 36, each of the 36 states of the Federation is supposed to have at least 15 people.
This anatomy that manifested some states of the Federation having representations three times more than other states is a violation of the principle of equality of states is unacceptable and has to be immediately redressed.
Also, I find it unacceptable that the provisions of the establishment Acts of these institutions in the constitution of their governing councils were brazenly violated.
For instance, the Federal College of Education, Obudu, Cross River State, has no representation in its governing council.
Also, the composition of the Federal Polytechnic Ugep is faulty because there is no representation of the host community where the Polytechnic is situated.
Section 2,(e) of the Federal Polytechnic Act 2019 provides as follows:
(2) The Council shall consist of a Chairman and the following other members, that is-
(a) one person to represent the universities;
(b)one person to represent the Manufacturers' Association of Nigeria;
(c) one person to represent professional bodies whose disciplines are taught at the polytechnic;
(d) one person selected from a Federal or State public utility statutory corporation;
(e) one person of standing in the community where the polytechnic is situated;
(f) the Rector of the polytechnic;
(g) one representative of the Minister charged with responsibility for matters relating to polytechnics
(h) one representative of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry charged with responsibility for matters relating to industries;
(i) one representative of the academic board of the polytechnic;
(j) one representative of the State Commissioner of Education; and
(k) five other persons, at least one of whom shall be a woman, to be selected each on his merit based on his contribution to either the development of industry, technology, or commerce or special interest in technical education.
Section 3 (e) of the Federal Polytechnic Act 2019 provides that the governing council of a Federal Polytechnic must include one person of standing from the community where the community is situated.
Accordingly, the Ugep community where the Federal Polytechnic is situated ought to be represented in the governing council of the Federal Polytechnic Ugep.
In the last governing council appointed in 2021 during former President Muhammadu Buhari's time, a member of the governing council was appointed to represent the community where the Federal Polytechnic Ugep.
It seems to me that those who prepared the list for appointments to the governing council of the Federal Polytechnic did not avail themselves of the provisions of the Federal Polytechnic Act 2019.
It is so sad and outrageous.
Expressing his frustration about the list, Obla continued: "How can in good conscience, the Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman SAN nominate 25 people from Adamawa State as Chairmen/Members of the Governing Council of Federal Universities, Federal Polytechnics, and Federal Colleges of Education?
1. Amb Kevin Peter
2. Sen. Binta Masi Garba
3. Hon Umar Duhu
4. Abdulrahman Yaji (Kakakin Mubi)
5. Danladi Chamba
6. Haj Fadimatu Nuhu Mohammed
7. Hon Titsi Ganama
8. Alh Ibrahim Bilal
9. Baba Galadima
10. Muniru Wambai
11. Sen M. Mana
12. HE Bala Ngilari
13. Dr J. Baba Kwaghe
14. Patience Charles Kwache.
15.HE Martin Babale
16. Sen. Abubakar Girei
17. Bar Zainab Marwa
18. Hon. Mijinyawa Kugama.
19. Joshua Atiku.
20. Julius Kadala
21. Sen. Grace Bent.
22. Bar. Danjuma Mohammed.
23. Sen. Silas Zeingina
24. Isa Jibir Grema
25. Abdulsalami Mohammed Bala
26. Umar Mohammed Jada.
27. Hammanjoda Faran.
28. Gidado Yusuf Ribadu
29. Engr. Bawuro Yahaya
etc.
Enough ought to be enough
Another chieftain of the party from Cross River state, Elder(Barr) Etim Inyang rues the skewed list and urged the powers that be to correct the anomaly.
Inyang said: "The recent release of chairmen and members of governing council of federal tertiary institutions by the Federal Govt and the injustice done to Cross River State call for deep thinking on what went wrong and/or the state of relationship between the State and the centre.
"This is repeat of maltreatment to the State , after the sad episode of the choice of the National woman leader of the party, upon the resignation of Dr Betta Edu ,which was stolen from CRS and given to Edo State. This is sad and shameful , especially when the CRS is the only APC State in the entire South-South zone and the Governor is the leader of APC in the South-South zone ... While a State like Akwa ibom State had more than 4 chairmen and 40 members , CRS was only given 3 members , none in the university . CRS can't be treated as an outside in the govt that we gave above 25% constitutional requirement to the President.
"I therefore call on our leaders , both in Federal and State to immediately constitute a lobbying and contact group to reach out to the power that be at the federal.. This is not a time for blame game , but to come together, as there is strength in unity , also , our Federal lawmakers must as a matter of urgency raise this maltreatment and injustice on the floor of the two houses . We the citizens must raise our advocacy bar , by calling world press conference and sponsoring articles/issuing press releases .
Enough ought to be enough
A member of the party in Ogun state, Oyeniran Bayo who expressed dismay at the composition said they couldn't deliver the state (Osun) for the president in the last general election yet they have been rewarded before listing board members from Osun which includes: Dr Saka Layoonu, Univ.of Benin; Prof Siyan Oyeweso, Fed. Univ. Lokoja; Prof Mojeed Alabi, Fed. Col.of Educ. Abeokuta; Hon Sunday Akere, Yaba Col.of Tech; Hon. Bade Falade, Fed. Col.of Educ. Okenne; Hon. Rotimi Makinde, Fed. Poly. Offa; Hon. Bosun Oyintiloye, Fed. Col.of Ede Special Oyo; RH. Timothy Owoeye, Fed. Col.of Educ Special, Oyo; Hon. Jamiu Olawumi- Univ of Benin; Segun Fanibe, Fed. Poly. Ayede, Oyo; Hon. Ajiblla Famurewa, Fed Col.of Educ Special Akoka; Hon
Tunde Olatunji, Fed Poly. Ado Ekiti; Hon. Nike Omoworare, Fed Univ Oye Ekiti; Dr Adebisi Obawale, Univ of Calabar; Prof. Sola Ajala, Univ of Nig. Nsukka; Mr Ayo Afolabi, Univ of Jos; Alhaja Lateefat Giwa, Akanu Ibiam Fed. Poly; Lukman Bello, Nnamdi Azikwe Univ Awka; Hon. Nasiru Olateju, Fed. Univ of Pet. Efurrum and Yusuf Alli, Fed. Univ of Agric. Abeokuta
APC Plateau chapter expresses happiness with the appointments of its members on the boards of higher institutions.
A statement by its publicity secretary, Shittu Bamaiyi yesterday reads: "The APC Plateau State Chapter, is full of happiness and excitement over the appointments of some of its members on the boards of Higher Institutions in the Country.
"It is a thing joy and celebration to learn of the inclusion of some prominent supporters of the party on the decision making bodies of Universities and Polytechnics in the Country, by the federal government.
"The appointments of people like, the State Chairman of the Party, Hon. Rufus Bature, Architect Gyang Pam, Hon. Sadat Garga, Alhaji Bashir Musa Sati and Professor Abdullahi Gani, are very deserving and well placed, considering their support and contributions to the successes of the APC in the State, and the Country at large.
There is no doubt that the appointments coming at this particular time, is a good omen and also signals more good tidings ahead for the party supporters on the Plateau.
It is also a pointer to the fact that, apart from being fulfilling and reassuring, the sacrifices as well as support given to the Party when it needed most by its teeming loyalists, was not in vain.
Furthermore, the new appointments will certainly serve as a moral booster and also prove cynics wrong, that the party supporters particularly those on Plateau have been abandoned by the APC led federal government.
"While anxiously waiting for more strategic appointments, the Party is heartily congratulating the appointees and also wishing them a very memorable and result oriented tenures.
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