BY ANDREW IKEHI
Following the lingering internal crisis currently rocking the Governing Council and the Management of Delta State polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, the Delta State House of Assembly (DTHA), yesterday, upheld the six months suspension slammed on the Rector of the State-owned Polytechnic, Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu.
Also, the State Assembly, at its plenary, recommended six months suspension for the Bursar of the Polytechnic, Mr. Lawrence Ahwabighe.
The recommendation, The Pointer reports, was sequel to the investigative report of the Seven-man Ad-hoc Committee constituted by the State Assembly on the crisis.
The report, which was presented by the Chairman of the committee and Leader of the State Assembly, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi during plenary presided over by the Speaker, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor, also frowned at the role of the State Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari in relation to the crisis.
The lawmakers, in their resolution, stated that the Commissioner should be cautioned and advised to always work in compliance with the law establishing the polytechnic and other tertiary institutions in the State
Furthermore, the legislators enjoined the Commissioner to desist from usurping the powers of the Visitor of the Institution and Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori.
Presenting the report, Hon. Nwaobi explained that the investigation uncovered alleged administrative misconduct and financial breaches involving the Rector, Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu and some management officials of the Polytechnic.
He said the committee’s findings also revealed alleged certificate racketeering, irregular auctioning of metal scraps, vehicles, and other property of the institution, as well as questionable financial transactions within the Polytechnic’s accounts and revenue system.
It further recommended that the Deputy Rector should act in an interim capacity for the duration of the Rector’s suspension to ensure administrative stability just as it also, recommended that the most senior Chief Accountant should act as Bursar
The committee further called on the Visitor to the Polytechnic — the Governor, to invoke Section 32(1) and (2) of the law establishing the institution, which empowers the Visitor to conduct a visitation or direct such a visitation into the affairs of the Polytechnic.
The visitation, according to the committee, should focus on: the alleged administrative misconduct and financial improprieties by the Rector and management; the existence and operation of a certificate racketeering syndicate within the Polytechnic; the alleged auction sale of metal scraps, vehicles, and other institutional properties; the general state of the Polytechnic’s finances and revenue administration; and the overall affairs and governance of the institution.
The Speaker, Rt Hon Emomotimi Guwor, directed the Clerk to communicate the resolution of the House to the Governor, Rt Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and other parties involved, reaffirming the commitment of the Assembly to ensuring transparency, good governance, and adherence to due process across all state institutions.
