By lduozee Paul, Benin Correspondent
A group under the auspices of Equityand Justice, EJ, on Monday, April 15, called on the federal government tosanction the rector of Auchi Polytechnic, Dr. Sanusi Jimoh for employing 250staff without following the due process.
This was contained in a pressstatement issued by the group’s director of publicity, Mr. Izuagbe John andmade available to newsmen in Benin City.
Izuagbe said the rector, Dr. Sanusi Jimohhad during the polytechnic’s 25th convocation ceremony, disclosed that theinstitution employed 250 staff as part of practical steps towards solving theacute manpower shortage besetting the school.
Izuagbe quoted the rector as statingthus, “To strengthen the staffing capacity of the institution to delivereffectively and efficiently on its academic and support services, 250 membersof staff have been recruited.
“The staff have settled intotheir duties and early indications show that they will be a great asset to thisinstitution”
Izuagbesaid the recruitment of the250 staff is at variance with the enabling laws regarding recruitment into thefederal public service which states that all vacancies shall be advertised inat least two newspapers circulating nationally, giving prospective candidates aminimum of six weeks within which to apply.
The director of publicity of thegroup said more worrisome was the rector’s alleged employment of his son and placing him above his qualificationand competence.
According to Izuagbe, the rector hehas also been accused of allegedly employing about 12 members of his immediatefamily as staff of the institution.
He said his group has reasons tofault the appropriateness or otherwise of the recruitment without strictadherence to the process and staff audit to ascertain the exact numbers,competence and qualities of those said to have been employed by the rector.
He urged the appropriate ministry toinvestigate the employment scan and apply necessary sanctions where necessary,if found the rector has over stepped his bounds.
Reacting to the group’s stand, the AuchiPoly’s public relations officer, Mr. Mustapha Oshiobugie, said the schoolfollowed due process to recruit its staff.
“The polytechnic duly employed250 staff to fill the existing vacancies in the institution. All due processeswere followed.
“On the issue of employing 12 of hisfamily members, the PRO said, “if anybody of the family member isqualified, does that mean that such a person will not be employed? If therector has a son who wants to attend the polytechnic and he is qualified forthe department he wants to go, is it because his father is a rector he will notbe 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
