There is another crisis brewing over plans by the Governing Council of the Nasarawa State government-owned Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic to appoint a former official of the institution, allegedly indicted by a Government White Paper, to head the school over and above a professor from the University who came out tops in an interview.
Accusing fingers are already being pointed in the direction of a prominent member of the council for wanting to impress an emir in the state by pushing through the former school official, who is a sibling to the emir.
In Lafia, the state capital, stakeholders are waiting to see if the state chief executive will accede to what is being described as “machinations”. It has also led to the leakage of documents that suggest alleged fraud in management of Tetfund funds, and improper conduct.
In Lafia, a top government official, who prefers not to be named for now, alleged that the higher institution is being run as if it an extension of a “traditional council with meddlesomeness by certain individuals who are getting unnecessarily in matters of management”.
“Go and find out why how many times the council or a segment of it has met in the last few months. Is it a management committee?” he asked.
Insiders say a meeting fixed by the council for this week is to exonerate the sacked official to pave way for him to be put forward again for the office, after an initial attempt was thwarted. A commissioner in the state is alleged to have written for the reconsideration of the emir’s sibling.
When Nigeria Everyday reached out to the Acting Rector of the institution, Dr. (Mrs.) Jiriko, she curtly told our correspondent that the issue had been resolved.
Asked to expatiate, she declined to speak further because she was in a meeting.
The Chairman of the Governing Council of the polytechnic and Emir of Karshi, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed, did not respond to calls put to his number
In the state’s Ministry of Education, a letter of withdrawal of participation in affairs in meetings of council by one of its members is being bandied around as indicating of the council.
The member, one Victor Tukura, stopped short of accusing the council of a litany of illegalities.
Titled, Re: Crucial issues for consideration”, it reads in full: “You will recall that last year, I presented a seven paged document titled, “Crucial Issues For Consideration” dated 22nd July, 2019, in which I raised important issues bothering on the conduct of meetings, and the business of Council in general. I had to painstakingly resort to this measure after numerous verbal observations. The Chairman graciously allowed me to present the said paper to the Council in session, which was adopted for implementation.
“However, no concerted efforts have been made to put into practical effect the germane issues raised which have now become decisions of Council by reason of the adoption of the document. (I hereby attach the said paper as an addendum for easy reference).
“Since then, there has been no visible change either in attitude or conduct in the Council. The culmination of it all was what took place at the regular Council Meeting held on 3rd June, 2020 at the Council Chambers. What was tagged a regular Meeting based on the Notice of Meeting
was anything but regular. Everything that transpired was in violation of the Standing Orders of Council commencing from the inadequate Notice which was served via text message on the 24th May 2020, for a meeting which was slated for Monday 1st of June 2020.
“In the said meeting, the following infractions where committed, to wit:
i. The duration of time for the notice served was insufficient.
ii. No formal Agenda was circulated prior to the meeting.
iii. No formal Agenda was presented to the Council in session for discussion except for an item which was verbally mentioned.
iv. No Minutes of the previous Council Meeting were circulated to Members.
v. No Minutes of the previous Council Meeting were presented to Members for correction and adoption at the Council in session.
vi. No Report was presented to Council by the Ag. Rector to keep the Council abreast
with the on-goings in the Polytechnic, a practice which has persisted right from the
inception of this Council.
vii. No formal Memo, Board Paper or Committee Report emanating from Council
Committees or Management was presented for deliberations.
“In 1989 at the age of 27 years, I was appointed a Board Member of the Plateau Utilities Board, a government parastatal that was charged with service delivery in the water and electricity sector. Obviously, this was before the creation of Nasarawa State. It was my first appointment but since then, I have had the honour and privilege to serve in several Government Boards, Councils and Ad-hoc Committees, both at State, Federal, and some International platforms.
“In my practice as a Legal Practitioner of 35 years post call experience, my Law Office has provided professional services as Company Secretaries to statutorily agencies. I have always endeavoured in whatever way I can to place the experience garnered over the years at the disposal of Nasarawa State whenever I am called to discharge or undertake any responsibility,
something I am always willing to do.
“Being a member of the Governing Council of a HND awarding institution like ours, is an important and challenging responsibility and that is why the composition is made up of persons who have vast experience and expertises in administration, the public, the private and corporate world. The conduct of Council affairs should be as formal and professional as possible. However, in our case, meetings are being held without proper documentation by
Council. Committees meet and take decisions as Council conclusions without the knowledgeof Council as a whole, and monies are supposedly being expended without the approval of Council for all these purposes.
“Consequently, I categorically and unequivocally disassociate myself from any decisions or actions emanating from such decisions taken by, the Finance and General Purposes Committee; Senior Staff Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee; Junior Staff Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee; Tenders/Procurement Committee; Infrastructure & Technical Committee, and all other Committees for that matter, whose reports have not been presented for ratification and necessary approval of Council in accordance with Sec. 17 (2) of the Law establishing Isa Mustapha Agwai Polytechnic Lafia 2019. For the avoidance of doubt, the said provision states as follows, “No decision of a Committee shall have effect unless it is confirmed by the Council.” It is surprising that since I started sitting in Council, no report from some of these Committees has been sighted by me or ever presented to Council for approval.
“Since we were constituted as a Council, I have consistently raised my concerns on the manner in which business is conducted in Council and I have “shouted so loud and almost lost my voice.” This is the third document I am sending to Council to this effect and will never do so again after this letter. I came to the Council to contribute my quota as a decent Member in the development and advancement of my beloved State, but not to be an activist.
“I have observed that our lack of adherence to extant rules, regulations and tested conventions have become a new normal which I am not willing to accept, neither do I want to descend into the arena of interference in Management issues which is not part of our mandate. In the position paper which is attached, I made a proposition on each item. My usage of words is deliberate as it clearly states my unequivocal stance on these issues which I consider as irreducible minimums, rather than just proffering suggestions.
“I had prepared my letter of resignation from Council but decided to terminate the process because I reasoned that it would constitute a slap in the face of a Government that has been so good to me and my people. It is on record that after 20 years of the creation of Turunku Chiefdom by a military administration, it took the courage of a God sent Governor on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Umar Tanko Almakura, to actualize it in 2019. This is something we shall ever live to appreciate as a people. His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi A. Sule, embodies visionary leadership. He has brought into office his wealth of experience as a top-notch manager of human and material resources. He has exhibited a clear determination to make the State a reference point for development. The sagacity he has displayed so far in his style of administration has left no one in doubt as to the direction he is taking the State.
“It will be tantamount to a manifest display of ingratitude to this administration if I resign from Council. However, I will henceforth cease to attend Council meetings until the right things are done. I will not respond to any invitation for Council or Committee meetings, and will only return immediately there is an adherence to established rules, norms and practices. At the end of the day, I wouldn’t have lost anything if as a result of my decision we turn out to be the best Governing Council the Polytechnic has ever had at the end of our tenure. Lest we forget, the art of governance is all about adherence to extant rules, regulations and conventions which have stood the test of time. Where this is not done, even the best of intentions and actions could birth unpleasant consequences, and also open a wide door for unintended purposes.
“There is a day of reckoning. Sec. 8 (a) of the statute establishing the Polytechnic mandates the Visitor, in this case the Governor to constitute a Visitation Panel to scrutinize the academic and administrative performance of the Institution after every four years. This is a statutory responsibility by the Chief Executive of the State. Let’s not forget that our work will be assessed and scrutinized in the next two years. It was the finding of the last Visitation Panel that led to the setting up of the investigative Committee which produced the Government White Paper, leading to the dissolution of Council and Management. Do we want to toe the same path?
“Please note that my action is not targeted at any individual, neither is it personal but to the Council as a body. I want the best for us all and nothing more. I have great respect for the Chairman of Council and the traditional institution he represents and would not do anything that could cast any aspersion on him. I also hold all Members of Council in high esteem as they have exhibited a high sense of dedication to duty. I enjoy a cordial relationship with the Chairman and all members and this will continue even after now.
“I have an earnest desire to return to Council and continue to serve my State but not until the issues raised herein and the attached document are adequately addressed. Whatever we do today will outlive our tenure in Council and even beyond. Government found us worthy of appointment to the Council because we have a good name and it is my prayer that at the end of our tenure, we will leave with our good names intact.”