The House of Representative Committee on Federal Polytechnic has directed the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger state Dr. Baba Haruna to appear before it at a date to be communicated to him.
This was as the rector appeared alone to interact with the committee during its oversight of the activities of the institution.
Following a lone appearance of the rector of Federal Polytechnic Bida, Niger state Dr. Baba Haruna to at the House of Representatives Committee on Polytechnics and Higher Technical Education’ meeting with some Federal Polytechnics in the North Central.
The chairman of the committee, Mr. Fuad Laguda said that the rector might not have all the documentary evidence to present to the committee.
He noted that it was only appropriate to have a full team from the polytechnic which necessitated the need for a date for the institution to appear.
Responding, the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Bida Dr. Baba Haruna appealed for the house to grant his team another date for appearance.
He explained that his solo appearance was as a result of the change in plans by the Committee.
The committee was supposed to interfaced with another polytechnic in Wannune Benue state was also postponed due to the nonappearance of the institution’s leadership.
The House Committee also gave the management of Federal Polytechnic Idah, Kogi State 10 days to provide detailed documents of ongoing projects in the institution.
Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Fuad Kayode-Laguda gave the directive after presentations by the Rector, Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman and other officials before the Committee on Thursday.
The Committee interrogated the documents presented by the institution’s officials which the members said have fallen short of what was required by the Committee.
The lawmakers also discovered infractions regarding the observance of the Federal Character principles in the staff composition on the Nominal Role presented to the Committee.
Speaking to journalists after the session, Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Fuad Kayode-Laguda, said, they gave the Federal Polytechnic Idah officials 10 working days to bring the documents required.
He said, “We invited Federal Polytechnic Idah Kogi State and Federal Polytechnic Shendam, Plateau State. But, unfortunately Federal Polytechnic Shendam didn’t come prepared, and we couldn’t host them today.
“But we were able to have a very-very productive interaction with Federal Polytechnic Idah, which they’ve also invited us over to the school to come which ordinarily we would have gone.But, to make things convenient for them we said they should come here. But, they also pleaded with us to come. We had a very-very mutually beneficial discussion.
“Yes, they have not met the standards expected by us in terms of their reportings which we have given them another 10 working days to make available those documents to us.Basically, it’s just explaining their budget line that we asked for. So, it’s not anything out of place.”
He said that they have made their observations and have directed the institution that there was a violation which was need to be addressed urgently.
“Well, after going through their nominal role, we noticed that, a shortfall of indexes of Federal Character. However, they came up with reasons and defence.But, very soon, we are sure there are some employment opportunities that would come up and the corrections will start happening,” he said.
The Committee chairman also said that although some officials of Federal Polytechnic Shendam, Plateau were at the sitting, but the refused to entertain them because the requirement was that, the Rector as the headvof the institution must be before the Committee in person.
He said, “The people that came, the head of the school was not here and he didn’t send in an apology and that’s not satisfactory. So, we told them to please excuse us, till when they have a complete team to meet with us. We will be getting in touch with them by inviting them back.
“We’ve invited them. In North Central we invited four schools.Idah, Kogi State, Shendam Plateau, Bida Minna, the Rector will come back with his team before we go through their reports and of course the one we took now.”
While speaking to journalists, the Rector, Federal Polytechnic Idah, Dr. Salisu Ogbo Usman said that, they were before the Committee made submissions and the Committee has requested additional documents and further clarifications on some issues which he said would be made available on the appointed date for their next appearance.
He said, “The interaction was very smooth. Of course when you face a Committee like this that is carrying out their statutory function, it is more or less interviews,investigations and all these things. But the… other correspondences that were not contained in our submissions, they’ve given us 10 working days within which we submit, and we’ve obliged.”
Speaking on the oversight visit by the Committee to the institution, he said some issues were raised which necessitaed the suspension of the visit until another time.
“The letter written to us before we started coming, the reason given was based on security, why we have to come. If not, ordinarily, of course they are supposed to be in Idah today.But with the reason given we understand that we have to come back.”
Speaking on the alleged violation of Federal Character, the Rector said, “Yes, we argued this out. Federal Character was implemented. It might not be, the profession, you might not expect the proportions of the State’s populations of staff. The staff are from different populations.”
He said Bidah is a traditional town where most people employed from different parts of the North converge.
Lateefah Ibrahim
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